Understanding How Peer Support Helps in Mental Health Care

The goal of this observational study is to better understand the psychological processes associated with professional peer support among adults using psychiatric services. The main questions it aims to answer are: Do users perceive greater similarity and less dehumanization with peer workers compared with other mental health professionals? Are perceived similarity and dehumanization associated with users' empowerment and hope? Researchers will compare participants' perceptions of a peer worker and another mental health professional who have supported them during the past 12 months. Participants will complete an online questionnaire about their experiences with both professionals, including measures of perceived similarity, therapeutic alliance, perceived dehumanization, empowerment, and hope. The order in which participants answer questions about the peer worker and the other mental health professional will be randomized.

Inclusion Criteria: Experiencing or having experienced mental health difficulties. Having received support from mental health professionals within the past 12 months. Having received support from a professional peer worker within the past 12 months. Being able to identify a specific mental health professional who provided support during the past 12 months. Being able to identify a specific professional peer worker who provided support during the past 12 months. Being able to understand written French and complete the online questionnaire