Peer Support

Peer support is the process of giving and receiving encouragement and assistance to achieve long-term recovery. Peer supporters offer emotional support, share knowledge, teach skills, provide practical help and connect people with resources, opportunities and communities. In behavioral health, peers offer their unique lived experience with mental health conditions to provide support focused on advocacy, education, mentoring and motivation. Peer providers can play many roles in support of people living with psychiatric disorders 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 also 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).