The power of peer led-spaces for young mental health family carer lived experience workers: A co-operative inquiry

Objective This article explores the potential benefits of peer-led spaces for young mental health family carer lived experience (FCLE) workers, in fostering connection, advocacy, and knowledge production.Method Using a co-operative inquiry collaboration process, ten young FCLE workers, lived experience researchers, and allies reflected on their engagement in peer-led workshops.Results Four key ways in which young FCLE workers experienced benefit from participating in peer-led spaces were identified, including fostering connection and agency, articulating under-recognised experiences, clarifying often ambiguous roles and career pathways, and building capacity in knowledge production.Discussion Peer-led spaces are shown to provide essential professional community-building and support mechanisms for young FCLE workers. The inquiry draws together the broader implications of these findings for supporting young FCLE workers in a context where young carers face significant barriers to entering the workforce, roles can be isolated or systemically misunderstood, and young FCLE workers are under-represented in research. Links to existing frameworks with potential for implementing such peer-led spaces and processes are explored, namely role modelling, communities of practice and co-operative inquiry.