We believe that people with lived experience builds a base for better care in support work. It equips support workers with the emotions and tools to help in the crucial moments. The data backs this up.
Medical research and commentary on the benefits of lived experience mental health support workers
Support workers with lived experience (peer workers) achieve health and recovery outcomes equivalent to or better than standard clinical care
Surveys consistently find that workers identifying with lived experience report higher job engagement and are less likely to want to change to non-mental health professions than their non-lived experience peers.
They excel at facilitating rapport and relationship safety because clients feel more comfortable discussing issues with someone who shares a similar background.
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A great mental health support worker, of course isprofessional, takes a person-centred approach, and offers compressive care tothose who need it.
But we believe that these attributes are only scratching the surface.
We have spent a great deal of time thinking about this. It is the most importantthing. The list of attributes and standards is what we look for when lookingfor Lived Experience Mental Health Support Workers, and the feedback we havehad from the people we work with.
In an ever-increasingly technological world, our support workers provide a down to earth, human experience. In all its imperfections, vulnerability, joy and depth
Somebody that can meet you where you are at any given day. Doesn't matter if it's a good day, or a bad day. We will be there regardless
A deeper way of listening, learning as we listen, about others and ourselves -
Somebody that can let others lead the situation and take a backseat when interacting, allowing others to fill the space
Somebody that can allow agency to a person's choice and control, despite what a support worker might think
Somebody that understands boundaries, can communicate boundaries articulately, and enforce boundaries
Somebody that says what they mean, and means what they say, and is comfortable in their nature
Somebody who can relate and walk a mile in other shoes
Somebody that is warm natured, and communicates with good nature and comfort
Somebody that is consistent with the way they support and can be themselves.
Somebody who is open minded, and has a deep experience of the world
Somebody who has a depth of life experience and thus can help in most situations
Somebody that is not only aware of themselves, but is aware of others, and the situation
Somebody who has had a profound lived experience in their own darkness
Somebody who genuinely thinks about others, their circumstances,and how to make it better
Somebody who can park their ego and make it about others
Somebody who is humble and doesn't mind passing off thecredit to others and knows that luck is involved. It's understanding that theymay not have the answer, research, and finds out.
Positive hearted and comes from a place of positivity
Somebody that can talk about the elephant in the room if necessaryand have uncomfortable conversations. They 'tell it how it is' and can be braveenough to say it
When appropriate, to be vulnerable with others when it canmake a massive impact. Allow themselves to be human, and demonstrate thatpeople in their situation, they aren’t the only one
On time, does what they say their going to do, when they said they were going to
Somebody who radically accepts others, and does not make any judgements on people, their decisions, or what they are telling you in confidence
Not sarcastic, doesn't tell people what to do, and doesn't treat people like they're below them.
Somebody who can break tasks down into small things, helpothers take step by step approach, and acknowledge those small steps to build momentum
Somebody who is respectful towards others, and does not stepon other people’s toes
Somebody that doesn't let the world change them, and can continue to be themselves
Somebody who researches what works and what does not, from multiple sources
Can see different perspectives on life, situations and people, and see the inter-relatedness of those observations
Because they have let go of their ego, they can let go ofthe outcome of the person their supporting, and let people make their owndecisions which might not be ideal, and not take it personally
Can be light-hearted and not take things too seriously
Somebody who can be a friend, but also knows when Friendship is not enough
Can reframe situations and perceptions to see different meanings
Somebody that can be depended on to be consistent
Somebody who can actively listen to others story attentively
Somebody who can motivate with the power of storytelling and relatedness
Somebody who checks in when they observe or feel the moment
Compliments their experience with training, such as St Johns Training & Suicide preventation Training
Somebody that can laugh, share laughter appropriately, andcan disarm situations with humour
Somebody who is upfront and does not lie
Somebody who can take their time and knows that everything in due time
A Deeper Connection from both sides. Lived Experiencesupport workers.
Peer support workers drastically lower client hospital admissions and shorten hospital stays.
Decreased reliance on emergency departments and crisis services translates to substantial financial savings for health systems.
The average turnover for new mental health support workers is three months. All our lived experience support workers have been in industry far longer.
Personal recovery histories act as a psychological buffer, protecting workers from burnout when client progress is slow.
Workers serve as living proof of recovery, which directly inspires hope, self-determination, and active goal setting with clients.
People feel safer sharing vulnerable thoughts, reducing the stigma and shame often felt during standard clinical assessments.
An overall better experience for everyone involved.
We believe lived experience provides the best foundation for being a brilliant support worker. Complimented with a heart of gold nature and constant learning.
