Extending our understanding of mentoring: The potential of peer mentoring for, and by, at-risk young people

Mental health nurses are intrinsically skilled at provid-ing intervention for those impacted by a mental health condition. While we successfully apply many care modalities to support our clients, there is still a need for innovation and improvement in the way we approach client groups. Younger clients, particularly at-risk young people, are often difficult to engage in traditional and formal mental health-care models, and could benefit from the application of more novel, relationship-based approaches.

Young people face increasing difficulties in many facets of their lives and are burdened by issues that are more prominent in today’s society (McGorry & Gold-stone 2011; Muir & Powell 2012). Today, young people are more likely to come from single parents or problematic family units, and often experience socio-economic disadvantage and exposure to substance mis-use, family dysfunction, violence, conflict, and sexual transgressions (Indiget al.2011).