Peer support workers may be viewed more like friends than non-peer case managers or clinical staff, and they are expected to disclose personal information and to share intimate stories from their own lives.

Boundaries in peer support

Formalising peer support by offering payment, training and titles will lead to power differences.

Power

Peer support workers might be exposed to stress that could result in a reoccurrence of symptoms that may result in rehospitalisation.

Stress for peer support workers

There is a shared responsibility between peer support workers and peers that moves away from risk assessments towards mutually responsible relationships.

Accountability

They provide support based on experience rather than professional expertise, more reciprocal relationships and more egalitarian conversations. 

Peer support workers' distinct role

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

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

Repper, J., & Carter, T. (2011). A review of the literature on peer support in mental health services. Journal of mental health, 20(4), 392-411. https://doi.org/10.3109/09638237.2011.583947

A review of the literature on peer support in mental health services

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

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

Benefits derived from peer support/peer provided services

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

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