Table 5 A Translation of findings into the EMERGES framework

Empowerment

Simpson [14] Occupational training leads to competence, empowerment, skills, knowledge. Toikko [52] Developing an orientation to the future and politicised identities. Jones [53] politicised identities through shared grievances and collective identity. Hutchinson and Lovell [54] Reframing of illness, sharing experiences and listening to each other’s stories enabled and empowered co-researchers to be less critical of the self and normalise experiences of distress. Cameron et al. [20] Good outcomes of involvement lead to empowerment, purpose, value, skills, and knowledge. DeRuysscher et al. [21] Life rebuilding. Disempowering through the system and bureaucracy but enablers through personal, collective, work, and system level strategies [25] Hill et al. [56] feeling listened to, valued and with purpose and making a difference. Cooke et al. [55] impact on self and others

Motivation

Newcomb et al. [23], Simpson [14] Model recovery and inspire others. Toikko [52] Motivation to share experience and reduce stigma/raise awareness. Jones [53] Motivation to move from illness identity to a positive one. Cooke et al. [55] Taking up the trainer role—It just all took off

Empathy of the self and others

Simpson [14] (Identity and relationships, connection with peers); Wilson [22] Drug talk can be triggering. Toikko [52] Sharing experiences with peers and friends. Jones [53] Sharing of experiences leads to common shared experiences and politicised identities. Hutchinson and Lovell [54] Unrestricting lives and Reciprocity-connections with others affirmative experiences and belief in others and the self, hearing others’ stories enabled empathic connections and normalised experiences of distress. Cameron et al. [20] find that social connections are a result of involvement. Hill et al. [56] being understood by trainees and feeling connected to each other as survivors. “Band of brothers” [55]

Recovery model/Medical model

Adame [1] Differences between psychological and psychiatric models; Richards et al. [3] Jones [53] Cameron et al. [20] service providers do harm when reverting to the medical model lens and resulting in diminished identities. Decisions, diagnoses being made for them in secrecy [55]

Growth and Transformation

Richards et al. [3] Personhood; Jones [53] Becoming an EBE changed illness identity to a more positive one. Hutchinson and Lovell [54] process of hearing others’ stories humanised the experience of distress and transformed and reframed service user identities. Hill et al. [56] I am not the same person I was. Emergence of professional identity linked to value and power [55]

Exclusion/Stigma and Discrimination

Richards et al. [3] Unintegrated; Adame [1] Us and Them divisions; Newcomb et al. [23] Disclosure difficulties. Simpson [14] Identity and relationships (PSWs Excluded by other professionals). Wilson [22] Barriers to accessing services when relapsing as a PSW, Difficult to move beyond Drug user identity to professional opportunities. Jones [53], Cameron et al. [20] service providers choose who is listened to and who has power. Alienation and exclusion of diversity in white spaces [25]. Hill et al. [56] breaking the glass ceiling. Information, diagnosis of personality disorder not shared [55]

Survivor roots

Richards et al. [3], Adame [1] Foundational nature of survivor identity. Jones [53], Cameron et al. [20] Screaming in a milk bottle [55]