Peer Support

How can peer support complement clinical/traditional care?

Although others working in mental health and addictions may have lived or living experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges, peer support is a unique role because peer supporters are trained to use that shared lived experience to support others.

Peer support can help to normalize and destigmatize the feelings and experiences people may have so that they can feel less alone. Because peer support is based in a non-medical, recovery approach, it is focused on the relationship between peer and peer supporter and the strengths of the peer-client. It can build the person’s belief in themselves and their skills. And it is focused on the person’s life goals, not illness-treatment goals.

Peer Support Values (list below adapted from the Mental Health Commission of Canada Guidelines for the Training & Practice of Peer Support)

• Hope and recovery – acknowledging the power of hope and the positive impact that comes from a recovery approach

• Self-determination – believing that each person knows inside which path is best for them and their needs, noting that it is the peer’s choice whether to become involved in a peer support relationship

• Empathetic and equal relationships – noting that we all have our challenges and strengths and we all have something to give and receive

• Dignity, respect and social inclusion – valuing all people, whatever their background, preferences or situation

• Integrity, authenticity and trust – taking care to respect privacy, be reliable, and act ethically 

• Health and wellness – paying attention to all aspects of a healthy and full life

• Lifelong learning and personal growth – appreciate the value of learning, changing and developing new ideas and worldviews for all people

But what does peer support actually look like in practice…

Example 1: Ali is a peer supporter to Shane. In the six months they’ve worked together, they’ve had discussions about Shane’s boredom with life and that he felt like a failure because of his mental illness. Ali shared that he could relate to how Shane was feeling, and pointed out Shane’s strengths. Shane and Ali had conversations about purpose, meaning, and connection, and their experiences trying to build these. With support from Ali, and the confidence he’d built through their conversations, Shane made a list of possible places he might like to volunteer. Shane and Ali practiced conversations to help Shane prepare to call the volunteer agencies, which Shane did. Before wrapping up peer support, Shane volunteered at a festival and took training to prepare to volunteer with a youth organization. Shane was also considering the possibility of finding a part-time job.

Example 2: Sam and Fatima have been meeting for peer support for almost a year. When they first began meeting, Sam found it very hard to leave the house, and to spend time around people. Even though their meetings were sometimes brief and uncomfortable for Sam, they continued to make an effort and tried different things, like colouring or crafting together, so that there was less pressure to talk. Over time, Sam became more and more comfortable opening up to Fatima, especially after Fatima shared some of her own difficulties with social situations. It was important to Fatima that Sam not just feel more comfortable around her, but that Sam saw that he could connect with people more generally, so she brought this up with Sam. They agreed to attend a crafting event at the local library together a couple of times, with the understanding that Sam would go on his own once he was more comfortable.

Please note: the scenarios above are fictionalized examples of topics that come up in peer support.