iP2P Mentorship Program for Teen HF Patients (iP2P HF)

Mentee inclusion criteria: heart failure patient, at least 4 months post-diagnosis, between the ages of 12 and 17 years, able to speak and read English, and willingness to commit to 5-10 texts and/or calls of 20-30 minutes each with a peer mentor over a period of 15 weeks. Mentor inclusion criteria: heart failure patient, between the ages of 18 and 25 years, able to speak and read English, nominated by a member of their health care team as a good mentor based on maturity and emotional stability, willingness to commit to peer mentor training (20 hours) via the PHIPA-compliant version of Zoom or Microsoft Teams and mentoring adolescent participants (once paired with mentee, 5-10 texts and/or calls of 20-30 minutes over a period of 15 weeks), good communication skills (as assessed by a healthcare provider), and previous experience in a professional environment (e.g., as a camp counsellor, part time job, volunteering) is an asset. Exclusion Criteria: significant cognitive impairments as assessed by a qualified healthcare provider, a diagnosis of an active psychological disorder (e.g., Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder) likely to influence assessment of health-related quality of life and/or interfere with their ability to manage their heart failure care regimen (a diagnosis of an active psychological disorder will be determined for mentees through medical chart review and self-reported by mentors), and participating in other peer support or self-management interventions.