Peer mentors’ experiences in Active Rehabilitation camps for individuals with acquired brain injury

Summary of findings from: Wedege, P., Divanoglou, A., Abrahamsen, F. E., & Mæland, S. (2024). ‘We’re all on the same journey; some are just a bit further down the road than others’: A qualitative study exploring peer mentors’ experiences in Active Rehabilitation camps for individuals with acquired brain injury. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1–12.

Individuals with ABI want to become peer mentors to help others cope better with their injury. Some of them longed to meet a peer mentor when they got injured, and others felt meeting peer mentors was vital for dealing with their new situation.

However, when peer mentors enter their role at an Active Rehabilitation camp, they frequently question what this role entails, if they are qualified to mentor others, and if they perform up to expected peer mentoring standards. This insecurity improves with peer mentor training and practice.

Many peer mentors state that their role as peer mentors is exhausting and challenges their impairments, as well as coping strategies for handling impairments, such as fatigue. Despite finding the peer mentor role challenging, they claim it is worth it because they benefit in many other areas.

The benefits include improved confidence and self-esteem, knowledge of brain injury, increased physical activity levels, and encouragement to participate more in their local community. The key finding from this study is the expanded network of peers that the peer mentors experience. This network facilitates openness about having an ABI and is perceived as understanding and supportive. The peer mentors establish close connections and friendships with other peer mentors, which relieve their experiences of loneliness.