Only a portion of those who are diagnosed receive treatment, and professional therapists cannot begin to meet the extent of the need. Thus, these alternative formats are very useful.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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

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.

There is decreased hospitalization for both peer provided services and peer provider themselves which leads to financial savings. Also, self-help programs may reduce the utilization of the traditional mental health services which also reduce costs. 

Cost-savings

Most of the time, mental health providers only see individuals with psychiatric disorders at their worst. Peer providers give mental health providers the opportunity to see peers successfully functioning in productive "normal" social roles.

Combat societal stigma

Peer provided services proffer a mechanism for serving individuals in need of mental health services, but who are alienated from the traditional mental health system. 

Serving individuals who are alienated from the traditional mental health system

Evidence indicates that peer provided services can improve the effectiveness of the traditional mental health delivery system.

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