Peer Work in Rural and Remote Communities and Mental Health Services

Research Proposal
1

Contents
Title – “Peer Work in Rural and Remote Communities and Mental Health Services”...................3
Summary of the proposal study.......................................................................................................3
Rational for the research..................................................................................................................3
Research Aim...................................................................................................................................3
Research Objectives.........................................................................................................................4
Research Questions..........................................................................................................................4
Research Design..............................................................................................................................4
Research Methods............................................................................................................................5
Research philosophy....................................................................................................................5
Research approach.......................................................................................................................5
Research strategy.........................................................................................................................5
Data collection and analysis........................................................................................................6
Sampling......................................................................................................................................6
Ethical Considerations.....................................................................................................................6
Proposed Timeline for Research......................................................................................................7
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12
2

Title – “Peer Work in Rural and Remote Communities and Mental Health
Services”
Summary of the proposal study
Peer workers can be defined as the most valuable and underutilized resource available in
rural and remote areas in mental health services. Thus, it is very important to take care of peer
workers as it is assistive in ensuring that work can be performed in better manner in rural and
remote communities. Peer workers are employed based on their personal lived mental illness as
well as recovery experience or the experience associated with supporting friends or family with
mental illness. In order to get job, this lived experience is very much necessary along with other
experience and skills needed for the specific role they undertake. At the time of considering
developing a peer worker, it is crucial to understand that the requirements of carers and
consumer are different and thus, roles of consumer peer employees and carer workers are
different. This research proposal intent to analyse peer work in rural and remote communities
and the ways to recruit and retain health workers.
Rational for the research
This research study is based on the title “Peer Work in Rural and Remote Communities and
Mental Health Services” and it intent to analyse peer work in rural communities and the ways to
recruit and retain health workers’ in developing nations in mental health services. The main
reason of selection of this research is that it is effective in gaining deep knowledge of topic. It
helps in understanding the concept of peer work in rural communities and determine
opportunities available for young individuals in the area. Apart from this, it also helps in
determining the ways through which the health workers can recruit and retain in rural and remote
areas. Moreover, the issues faced by the rural social workers in mental health services and
different retention strategies for health care workers in rural and remote communities can also be
determined with the assistance of the study. In addition to this, this study is effective for
academic purpose also as it can use scholars as base for carry on further study.
Research Aim
The aim of this study is “To analyse peer working in rural and remote areas and the ways to
recruit and retain health workers’ in developing nations in mental health services.”
3

Research Objectives
The study objectives in relation to this research are as follows:
1. To understand the concept of peer work in rural communities or mental health services.
2. To ascertain the opportunities that are available for young people in rural and remote
areas.
3. To analyse the ways to recruit as well as retain health care workers in rural and remote
communities in developing countries.
4. To determine the issues faced by Rural Social Workers at their workplace in mental
health services.
5. To ascertain the retention strategies for health care workers in rural areas.
Research Questions
The research questions associated to this particular study are provided below:
1. What is the concept of peer work in rural communities in mental health services?
2. Which opportunities are available for young people in rural and remote areas?
3. How to recruit as well as retain health care workers in rural and remote communities in
developing countries?
4. Which are the different issues faced by Rural Social Workers at their workplace in mental
health services?
5. What can be the retention strategies for health workers in rural & remote areas?
Research Design
Research design can be stated as a framework of methods and techniques of research
selected by investigator. It enables investigator to hone in on for the methods which are
appropriate for subject matter. It is the overall strategy used to perform research which defines a
logical and succinct plan to tackle developed research question by collection, analysis and
interpretation of data. Qualitative and quantitative are the two research designs used in study by
investigator. In qualitative design, it is based on non-numerical data collection and the
quantitative research design is the design which is based on collection of numerical data. In this
study, researcher will use quantitative research design and gather numerical information on topic
so that more valid and reliable outcomes of the study can be drawn.
4