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Recovery-oriented mental health care approach is gaining acceptance in Asian countries, including Singapore. Following Western countries, Singapore started hiring peer support specialists (PSS) as part of mental healthcare services. The aim of this paper was to explore and understand how individual peer support specialists in Singapore perceive and make sense of their role given their unique perspective as both recipients and providers of mental healthcare treatment. Six PSS in Singapore were interviewed utilizing a semi-structured interview schedule. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four superordinate themes were generated illustrating how PSS viewed their role: embracing and embodying recovery, balancing on a bridge, impossible without support, and helping to end stigma. Findings also illustrated participants' awareness of the nature of the job and the role of PSS as still in the infancy stage. They embraced a recovery-oriented mindset despite experiencing stigma from professionals and/or their social support. The need to understand familial attitudes towards the PSS role is discussed. The limitations, contributions to the research, and several areas for future research are also outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore how people with mental illness experience recovery in the Clubhouse context, and which ingredients of the model they find active in promoting recovery. Methods: Hermeneutic–phenomenological design. Individual, semi-structured interviews with 18 Norwegian Clubhouse members. Systematic text condensation was used in analysis. Results: Three main themes emerged: "Balancing unlimited support with meeting challenges", with two sub-themes: "Unlimited membership: space for self-agency or hindering development?" and "Becoming a Clubhouse member: concerns and positive experiences". The second main theme was: "Learning how to build new skills and roles in the community". The third main theme was: "Getting better through and for work", with two sub-themes: "Work at the Clubhouse as a means to recovery" and "Preparing for a working life in society". Overall, participants experienced improved mental and social wellbeing and work readiness. Conclusions: Recovery in the Clubhouse context requires members' personal initiative, thus people having poor mental health might struggle with utilizing the Clubhouse. However, participants reported that lack of challenges within the community thwarted their recovery. Based on Salutogenesis, conscious application of challenge in Clubhouse activities might enhance members' recovery. Furthermore, participants' all-round involvement in their recovery journeys suggests the importance of shared decision-making in recovery-oriented services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]