Volunteer Programs in Mental Healthcare

Uses

How it works

Benefits

Preparation

Comparisons

Evidence quality

Highlighted claims

• After the 24-week trial concludes, participants in the Befriending arm are offered access to BCT. — Breathing control training as a treatment for functional seizures (BREATHS trial): a multicentre, assessor-blinded, randomised controlled efficacy and acceptability trial study protocol
• Befriending is a manualised, formally evaluated control condition designed for clinical trials of psychological and talking therapies. — Breathing control training as a treatment for functional seizures (BREATHS trial): a multicentre, assessor-blinded, randomised controlled efficacy and acceptability trial study protocol
• Befriending is delivered by the same physiotherapists as BCT, for the same duration and frequency, in a supportive, non-directive manner. — Breathing control training as a treatment for functional seizures (BREATHS trial): a multicentre, assessor-blinded, randomised controlled efficacy and acceptability trial study protocol
• Befriending has been shown to match BCT for expectancy, acceptability, enjoyment, and engagement while delivering no specific therapeutic benefit on most outcomes. — Breathing control training as a treatment for functional seizures (BREATHS trial): a multicentre, assessor-blinded, randomised controlled efficacy and acceptability trial study protocol
• Befriending and similar volunteering programmes have shown benefits for mental health outcomes, but evidence on physical health impacts remains limited. — Comparing perspectives of volunteers and patients on the Health Champions intervention in secondary mental healthcare: a qualitative study
• More than half of volunteers grew more confident in their skills through the experiential learning generated by programme challenges. — Comparing perspectives of volunteers and patients on the Health Champions intervention in secondary mental healthcare: a qualitative study
• An umbrella review confirmed volunteering can positively impact patients' physical health, though evidence in SMI populations is rarely reported and often inconsistent. — Comparing perspectives of volunteers and patients on the Health Champions intervention in secondary mental healthcare: a qualitative study
• Peer-delivered interventions can be effective catalysts for physical health outcomes even when volunteers do not share a mental health diagnosis with patients. — Comparing perspectives of volunteers and patients on the Health Champions intervention in secondary mental healthcare: a qualitative study
• Volunteer training that emphasises role expectations and appropriate time commitments allows volunteers to feel competent and confident. — Comparing perspectives of volunteers and patients on the Health Champions intervention in secondary mental healthcare: a qualitative study