Table 3 Summary of the findings

1. Making sense of the knowledge provided by mental health professionals and PSWs

1.1 Empathic understanding is more important than sharing knowledge.

1.2 Knowledge about mood change, medication, and remaining hopeful.

2. Critical perspectives on technical and expert-by-experience knowledge

2.1 When the role of PSWs was not clear or the PSWs were inexperienced, expert-by-experience knowledge was less helpful.

2.2 Technical and expert-by-experience knowledge were different but somewhat related.

3. It is more than mere knowledge transfer

Role-modeling speaks louder.