Introducing TCF - For health and social care professionals

One of a series of leaflets published by The Compassionate Friends Evidence of the value of peer support appears across the literature. Riley et al (2007) found fewer complicated grief symptoms in bereaved parents who received peer support, whereas Silverman and Worden (1993) reported that absence of peer support was associated with increased depression amongst bereaved parents. A systematic review of peer support for the bereaved across 32 published studies found “consistent evidence that peer support is beneficial to bereaved survivors” (Bartone et al, 2019). More than half (18) of the studies reported that peer support was regarded as helpful by bereaved individuals. Eleven studies found that peer support was associated with reductions in grief symptoms, such as depression and loneliness, whilst thirteen studies found association between peer support, personal growth and wellbeing. A large study examined the mental health changes over one year of participants in two online peer support forums for persons bereaved by suicide. At 12 months, the researchers (Kramer et al, 2015) found significant improvements in participants’ wellbeing and depressive symptoms. Similarly, Feigelman et al (2011 and 2012) and Barlow et al (2010) found that peer support was associated with significantly reduced symptoms of depression and positive grief resolution. For very good reason, most studies do not include a control group that receives no significant support for their grief, but there have been some carefully designed Randomised Control Trials. For example, a study of bereaved fathers in Finland (Aho et al, 2011) found that those who received peer support reported less severe grief symptoms and more “personal growth” than bereaved fathers not receiving this support. (Personal Growth is measured via scores given by participants to several reflective statements such as “I changed my priorities about what is important in life” and “I have a greater sense of closeness with others.” See Hogan Grief Reactions Checklist; Hogan et al, 2001.) A key tenet of the peer support approach is that their shared experiences and life circumstances enable peers to gain the trust and thereby provide support to those in need (Castellano, 2012). Although more research is always needed, there is good evidence to demonstrate something our members have intuitively sensed: that those in the same boat can be a source of empathy and mutual support. The available evidence indicates that peer support is generally beneficial, with relatively few potential downsides. TCF has shaped, and continues to shape itself to optimise the former and minimise the latter.