Peer support encompasses a range of activities 

and interactions between people who share 

similar experiences of being diagnosed with 

mental health conditions, substance use 

disorders, or both. This mutuality—often called 

“peerness”—between a peer support worker 

and person in or seeking recovery promotes 

connection and inspires hope. 

Peer support offers a level of acceptance, 

understanding, and validation not found in many 

other professional relationships (Mead & McNeil, 

2006). By sharing their own lived experience 

and practical guidance, peer support workers 

help people to develop their own goals, create 

strategies for self-empowerment, and take 

concrete steps towards building fulfilling, selfdetermined lives for themselves.

WHAT IS PEER SUPPORT?

WHAT DOES A PEER SUPPORT WORKER DO?

A peer support worker is someone with the lived 

experience of recovery from a mental health 

condition, substance use disorder, or both. 

They provide support to others experiencing 

similar challenges. They provide non-clinical, 

strengths-based support and are “experientially 

credentialed” by their own recovery journey 

(Davidson, et al., 1999). Peer support workers 

may be referred to by different names depending 

upon the setting in which they practice. Common 

titles include: peer specialists, peer recovery 

coaches, peer advocates, and peer recovery 

support specialists.

PEER SUPPORT WORKERS

inspire hope that people can and do recover;

walk with people on their recovery journeys; 

dispel myths about what it means to have 

a mental health condition or substance use 

disorder;

provide self-help education and link people 

to tools and resources; and 

support people in identifying their goals, 

hopes, and dreams, and creating a roadmap 

for getting there.

Peer support workers can help break down 

barriers of experience and understanding, as 

well as power dynamics that may get in the way 

of working with other members of the treatment 

team. The peer support worker’s role is to assist 

people with finding and following their own 

recovery paths, without judgment, expectation, 

rules, or requirements. 

Peer support workers practice in a range of 

settings, including peer-run organizations, 

recovery community centers, recovery residences, 

drug courts and other criminal justice settings, 

hospital emergency departments, child welfare 

agencies, homeless shelters, and behavioral 

health and primary care 

settings. In addition 

to providing the 

many types 

of assistance 

encompassed 

in the peer 

support role, 

they conduct 

a variety of 

outreach and 

engagement 

activities.

“Because of peer support I 

am alive!”

—Melodie 

“When I saw that other 

people recovered, it gave 

me hope that I could too.”

—Corinna

“Peer support allowed 

me to feel ‘normal.’”

—Jean

Peer support 

has been there for 

me no matter what, 

and now I am able to 

help others...

—Liza
HOW DOES PEER 

SUPPORT HELP?

The role of a peer support worker 

complements, but does not duplicate 

or replace the roles of therapists, case 

managers, and other members of a 

treatment team. 

Peer support workers bring their 

own personal knowledge of what it 

is like to live and thrive with mental 

health conditions and substance use 

disorders. They support people’s 

progress towards recovery and 

self-determined lives by sharing vital 

experiential information and real 

examples of the power of recovery. 

The sense of mutuality created 

through thoughtful sharing of 

experience is influential in modeling 

recovery and offering hope (Davidson, 

Bellamy, Guy, & Miller, 2012).

Emerging 

research shows that 

peer support is effective 

for supporting recovery 

from behavioral health 

conditions. Benefits of 

peer support may 

include:

Reduced hospital admission 

rates and longer community 

tenure (Chinman, Weingarten, Stayner, 

& Davidson, 2001; Davidson, et al., 2012; 

Forchuk, Martin, Chan, & Jenson, 2005; Min, 

Whitecraft, Rothbard, Salzer, 2007)

Increased self-esteem 

and conf dence 

(Davidson, et al., 1999; Salzer, 2002)

Increased social support and 

social functioning

(Kurtz, 1990; Nelson, Ochocka, 

Janzen, & Trainor, 2006; Ochoka et 

al., 2006; Trainor, Shepherd, Boydell, 

Leff, & Crawford, 1997; Yanos, 

Primavera, & Knight, 2001)

Increased empathy and 

acceptance (camaraderie) 

(Coatsworth-Puspokey, Forchuk, 

& Ward-Griffin, 2006; Davidson, 

et al., 1999)

Increased sense of hope 

and inspiration 

(Davidson, et al., 2006; Ratzlaff, 

McDiarmid, Marty, & Rapp, 2006)

Increased sense that 

treatment is responsive 

and inclusive of needs 

(Davidson, et al., 2012)

Decreased substance use 

and depression 

(Davidson, et al., 2012)

Decreased psychotic symptoms

(Davidson, et al., 2012)

Increased engagement 

in self-care and wellness

(Davidson, et al., 2012)

DOES PEER SUPPORT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Raised empowerment scores

(Davidson, et al., 1999; Dumont 

& Jones, 2002; Ochoka, Nelson, 

Janzen, & Trainor, 2006; Resnick & 

Rosenheck, 2008)

Increased sense of control 

and ability to bring about 

changes in their lives 

(Davidson, et al., 2012)

Chinman, M. J., Weingarten, R., Stayner, D., & Davidson, L. (2001). 

Chronicity reconsidered: improving person-environment fit through 

a consumer-run service. Community mental health journal, 37(3), 215-

229.

Coatsworth-Puspoky, R., Forchuk, C., & Ward-Griffin, C. (2006). Peer support 

relationships: an unexplored interpersonal process in mental health. Journal of 

psychiatric and mental health nursing, 13(5), 490-497.

Davidson, L., Bellamy, C., Guy, K., & Miller, R. (2012). Peer support among persons with 

severe mental illnesses: a review of evidence and experience. World Psychiatry, 11(2), 

123-128.

Davidson, L., Chinman, M., Kloos, B., Weingarten, R., Stayner, D., & Tebes, J. K. (1999). 

Peer support among individuals with severe mental illness: A review of the evidence. 

Clinical psychology: Science and practice, 6(2), 165-187.

Dumont, J., & Jones, K. (2002). Findings from a consumer/survivor defined alternative to 

psychiatric hospitalization. Outlook, 3(Spring), 4-6.

Forchuk, C., Martin, M. L., Chan, Y. L., & Jensen, E. (2005). Therapeutic relationships: From 

psychiatric hospital to community. Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing, 

12(5), 556-564.

Kurtz, L. F. (1990). The self-help movement: Review of the past decade of research. Social 

Work with Groups, 13(3), 101-115.

Min, S. Y., Whitecraft, J., Rothbard, A. B., & Salzer, M. S. (2007). Peer support for persons 

with co-occurring disorders and community tenure: a survival analysis. Psychiatric 

rehabilitation journal, 30(3), 207-213.

Mead, S., & McNeil, C. (2006). Peer support: What makes it unique. International Journal of 

Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 10(2), 29-37.

Nelson, G., Ochocka, J., Janzen, R., & Trainor, J. (2006). A longitudinal study of mental 

health consumer/survivor initiatives: Part 1—Literature review and overview of the 

study. Journal of Community Psychology, 34(3), 247-260.

Ochocka, J., Nelson, G., Janzen, R., & Trainor, J. (2006). A longitudinal study of mental 

health consumer/survivor initiatives: Part 3—A qualitative study of impacts of 

participation on new members. Journal of Community Psychology, 34(3), 273-283.

Ratzlaff, S., McDiarmid, D., Marty, D., & Rapp, C. (2006). The Kansas Consumer as Provider 

program: measuring the effects of a supported education initiative. Psychiatric 

Rehabilitation Journal, 29(3), 174-182.

Resnick, S, G., & Rosenheck, R. A. (2008). Integrating peer-provided services: a quasiexperimental study of recovery orientation, confidence, and empowerment. 

Psychiatric Services, 59(11), 1307-1317. 

Salzer, M. S. (2002). Consumer-Delivered Services as a Best Practice in Mental Health 

Care Delivery and The Development of Practice Guidelines: Mental Health Association 

of Southeastern Pennsylvania Best Practices Team Philadelphia. Psychiatric 

Rehabilitation Skills, 6(3), 355-382.

Trainor, J., Shepherd, M., Boydell, K. M., Leff, A., & Crawford, E. (1997). Beyond the service 

paradigm: The impact and implications of consumer/survivor initiatives. Psychiatric 

Rehabilitation Journal, 21(2), 132-140.

Yanos, T. P., Primavera, L. H., & Knight, E. L. (2001). Consumer-run service participation, 

recovery of social functioning, and the mediating role of psychological factors. 

Psychiatric Services, 52(4), 493-500. 

REFERENCES