Abstract:

The current context of globalization and of "globalized public health" requires instructional reforms in mental public health as it calls for an innovative approach to knowledge transfer and education in mental ecohealth. On a local level, as we are facing this new context, it is recognized that self-help and peer support contribute significantly to the practice of knowledge transfer. As knowledge users in community-based mental health, they can be involved in participatory intervention research and they can play a role in "integrated knowledge translation". However, narratives and/or case studies of peer support bringing — knowingly or not — a significant contribution to knowledge translation science (or knowledge translation research) are inexistent in the international literature.

This paper presents the case of "Mario & Point de Repères", a Canadian community organization working with people suffering from mental health and drug abuse. This organization unknowingly contributed to shed some light on methodological issues concerning knowledge translation research. The aim of this paper is to promote the determining role of peer support in the implementation of an updated knowledge translation vision referred as "transfrontier knowledge translation" from the stand point of their proactive involvement by addressing specific issues pertaining to knowledge translation research.
In conclusion, the author suggests further investigation of the peer support role acting behind the scene of knowledge translation science. Their direct participation in addressing the four specific issues of knowledge translation research — methodology, terminology, conceptualization and evaluation issues — could possibly pave the way to more “innoversityˮ (innovation through diversity), an essential quality given the socio-historical context of globalization.

Keywords:

Self-help, Peer support, Knowledge translation science, Knowledge translation research, Transfrontier approach, Mental ecoHealth, ICTs.