'Having those conversations': the politics of risk in peer support practice

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dc.contributor.authorScott, A.
dc.contributor.authorDoughty, C.
dc.contributor.authorKahi, H.
dc.date.accessioned2011-11-28T23:11:12Z
dc.date.available2011-11-28T23:11:12Z
dc.date.issued2011en
dc.description.abstractPeer support is a fast growing type of service provision within the mental health sector. This study draws on interviews with peer supporters and peer support managers to explore the ways that risks of violence, suicide and self-harm are managed within peer support settings in Aotearoa New Zealand. Drawing on Nikolas Rose and other theorists, who define risk thinking as an attempt to ‘discipline uncertainty’, we argue that the philosophy of peer support is in tension with a ‘risk consciousness’ because it sees crisis as a learning opportunity. We contend that peer supporters are pulled towards the ‘risk consciousness’ which pervades the mental health sector, and that they address this by managing risk in various ways. Finally, we show that peer supporters challenge this risk consciousness by working with risk through a philosophy of engagement and relationship. As peer support becomes more integrated into the wider health system, the challenge will be to continue the development of risk practices which work within a strong peer support philosophy.en
dc.identifier.citationScott, A., Doughty, C., Kahi, H. (2011) 'Having those conversations': the politics of risk in peer support practice. Health Sociology Review, 20(2), pp. 187-201.en
dc.identifier.issn1446-1242
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10092/5909
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherUniversity of Canterbury. Aotahi School of Maori and Indigenous Studiesen
dc.publisherUniversity of Canterbury. School of Social and Political Sciencesen
dc.publisherUniversity of Canterbury. Sociologyen
dc.rights.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10092/17651en
dc.subjectsociologyen
dc.subjecthealth studiesen
dc.subjectsociologyen
dc.subjectmental healthen
dc.subjectpeer supporten
dc.subjectrisken
dc.subjectsuicideen
dc.subjectrelationshipen
dc.subject.anzsrcField of Research::16 - Studies in Human Society::1608 - Sociologyen
dc.subject.anzsrcField of Research::11 - Medical and Health Sciences::1117 - Public Health and Health Services::111714 - Mental Healthen
dc.title'Having those conversations': the politics of risk in peer support practiceen
dc.typeJournal Article
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