Being a peer provider offered them personal growth in terms of increased confidence in their capabilities, ability to cope with the illness, self-esteem, and sense of empowerment and hope. Studies also found reduced hospitalizations for peer providers. 

Benefits to providers

Cost-savings

Combat societal stigma

Serving individuals who are alienated from the traditional mental health system

Improve effectiveness

Meet mental health needs of the community

Benefits to the mental health service delivery system

* Admission rates and community tenure
* Empowerment
* Social support and social functioning
* Empathy and acceptance
* Reducing stigma
* Hope

Benefits to individuals who receive mental health services

Peer support/peer provided services have resulted in benefits to peer recipients, peer providers, and to the mental health service delivery system.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Peer support is social emotional support that is mutually offered or provided by persons having a mental health condition to others sharing a similar mental health condition to bring about a desired social or personal change. 

Peer support

Solomon, P. (2004). Peer support/peer provided services underlying processes, benefits, and critical ingredients. Psychiatric rehabilitation journal, 27(4), 392. https://doi.org/10.2975/27.2004.392.401

Peer support/peer provided services underlying processes, benefits, and critical ingredients.

An individual with severe mental illness who is or was receiving mental health services and who self-identifies as such. 

Peer

Self-help groups

Internet support groups

Peer delivered services 

Categories of peer support

A variety of psychosocial processes tried to explain why peer support is so beneficial to individuals with a severe psychiatric diagnosis.

Underlying psychosocial processes of peer support

Benefits derived from peer support/peer provided services

* Service elements
* Characteristics of peer providers
* Characteristics of mental health service delivery system

Critical ingredients of peer provided services 

* Boundaries
* Power
* Stress for peer support workers
* Accountability
* Maintaining peer support workers' distinct role

Learn Before

Related

Learn After