Peer support

Peer support is a process through which people with lived experience support others experiencing similar challenges. In mental health, it often involves individuals and families who have experienced mental ill-health and/or who have received mental health services themselves supporting others facing similar experiences. Peer support can foster hope, provide a map of recovery, reduce stigma, and help build community. There is growing interest in understanding how peer support can be used to support youth. This is the focus of our work in peer support, which is mostly led by Dr. Dimitropoulos (University of Calgary), with Iyer as co-lead.

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We are conducting extensive knowledge syntheses, including a review of evidence for peer support in youth mental health and substance use, and a realist synthesis of why peer support works and under what circumstances.

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We are examining how peer support is being embedded in integrated youth services in Canada. We have conducted a qualitative study involving interviews with peer support workers and other team members. Working with the ACCESS Open Minds youth and family councils, Iyer created guides for youth peer support and family peer support and involvement, and surveyed multiple stakeholders about their views on family peer support in youth services. Iyer is also supporting the creation of an implementation guide “Chantier” on peer support for Aire ouverte.  

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We are exploring peer support in university campuses and hope to identify the situations in which peer support is used, as well as the barriers to its use.

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We are working to create standards and guidelines for youth peer support training in Canada. This project is engaging many peer support workers and youth with lived experience, and involves several Canadian (e.g., Peer Support Canada, CMHA Calgary, Foundry, Aire ouverte, YWHO) and international organizations (e.g., Orygen).