Global - "Peer with a capital P" — What global peer support workers really need

Global - "Peer with a capital P" — What global peer support workers really need New research spanning 15 countries reveals critical insights about mental health peer support services worldwide. While we know peer support works, we've rarely asked peer supporters themselves what they need to thrive. The findings? Across contexts — from formalized US programs to grassroots initiatives in Kenya — peer supporters share remarkably similar challenges: → Insufficient training that's too brief and lacks specialization → Unclear role boundaries leading to "peer drift" into clinical work → Low pay and limited career pathways despite specialized expertise → Persistent stigma, even from clinical colleagues → Desire for peer-led supervision, not just clinical oversight Yet peers remain intrinsically motivated. They find deep meaning in sharing lived experience to support others' recovery journeys. The path forward requires: - Standardized competency frameworks that protect the unique peer role - Longer, specialized training with ongoing development - Equitable compensation reflecting skills and impact - Peer supervision pathways and career progression - Grassroots partnerships, especially where formal systems don't exist As one participant put it: there's being a peer with a lowercase 'p' — and then there's being a Peer with a capital 'P' — someone whose lived experience of mental health challenges positions them uniquely to support others. It's time we invested in Peers accordingly. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ewQAWvu