Peer Support
Peer support connects participants with someone who understands their experience.
What is Peer Support?
Peer support is based on relationships built through shared lived experience. A peer is someone who has personally experienced mental health challenges and understands both the difficulties and the benefits of seeking support.
Peer support at PIER focuses on building supportive, mutual relationships rather than providing traditional clinical services. Conversations may explore wellness, challenges, and how personal experiences shape daily life. Participants decide what support looks like for them and what they want to work toward.
Discover how a peer support specialist can help.
Who Provides Peer Support
Support is provided by Peer Support Specialists who openly identify as having experienced mental health challenges and use that experience to support others.
Peer Support Specialists meet with PIER participants one-on-one, facilitate peer support and activity groups, and participate in outreach. All peer support staff maintain certification in Intentional Peer Support.
Peer support can help participants by:
- Building self-confidence, self-awareness, and self-advocacy
- Offering opportunities to both give and receive support
- Providing chances to engage in community activities with someone who understands
- Creating space to share experiences with a peer who works differently than the clinical team
Peer support complements other services and offers a different kind of connection within the PIER Program.
Peer support is flexible and shaped by the participant’s interests and goals. Participants and their Youth Peer Support Specialist decide together how to spend time. This may include:
- Meeting one-on-one
- Attending an activity or support group
- Going for a walk
- Sitting together at a coffee shop
- Playing a game at the library
Peer Support Specialists also offer activity and support groups that participants may choose to attend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Meetings happen as often as is helpful and may range from a few times per week to monthly. Support may take place one-on-one, in a group, or as part of Multifamily Group.
No. Peer support is entirely voluntary. Participants can start, pause, or stop peer support at any time by letting their Youth Peer Support Specialist know what works best for them.
