What is Peer Support?

Click here to read a paper written by Darby Penney titled Defining “Peer Support”: Implications for Policy, Practice, and Research

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Peer support is a mutual co-creative relationship between people who have personal lived experience with psychiatric diagnoses, mental health challenges, trauma, and emotional distress. Peer supporters have experienced their own mental health journey firsthand. We know what it’s like to live with mental health challenges, build hope, and work around the barriers that are often presented on a mental health journey. Peer supporters offer their peers active listening, validation, empathy, and understanding to support their choices and self-directed path. Peer support is a powerful approach that is based on the belief that wellness is possible for everyone. It focuses on strengths and mutual relationship building. Peer support can be an integral part of a person’s wellness journey and can help reduce the isolation and stigma that many people receiving mental health services may be experiencing.