What is Peer Support anyway?

According to www.mhanational.org, in behavioral health, a peer is usually used to refer to someone who shares the experience of living with a psychiatric disorder and/or addiction. Peer support is the process of giving and receiving encouragement and assistance to achieve long-term recovery. In behavioral health, peers offer their unique lived experiences with mental health conditions to provide support focused on advocacy, education, mentoring, and motivation. Peer providers can play many roles in support for people living with psychiatric disorders and/or in addiction recovery. They are capable of facilitating education and support groups and working as a bridge linking people to services as they transition from hospitals or jails into the community. Peers work one-on-one as role models, mentors, coaches, and advocates and support people in developing psychiatric advance directions and creating Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP). Peers go by many names and can work in many different settings. Many peers have additional training and certification that demonstrates their skills and knowledge. With their lived experience and ability to engage and connect with consumers, peer supporters are a dynamic and growing group that continues to transform lives and systems.

History

The concept of “peer support” in mental health has its roots in the self-help movement that began…