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The marriage of lived experience, tempered by mentorship and particular training to the needs of the participant
Matching personality nature first. Training can be taught, having a caring nature, and having shared interests and experiences cannot be taught.
We have the opportunity and capacity to do our best in the current environment. Let's do that.
Peer Support workers have the luxury of time, and building connection, unlike clinicians.
A true human to human connection based on mutual interests and understanding.
Walking in somebody else's shoes emotionally.
Turning up when we say we're going to turn up, week in, week out.
We create relationships for the long term.
Actual choice and control, not what is convenient for providers.
We do not know best. Participants have choice and control.
Being honest about who we are and what we can do creates trust.
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
Somebody that can allow agency to a person's choice and control, despite what a support worker might think
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 who has had a profound lived experience in their own darkness
Somebody who radically accepts others, and does not make any judgements on people, their decisions, or what they are telling you in confidence
Somebody who is respectful towards others, and does not stepon other people’s toes
Somebody that can be depended on to be consistent
Somebody who can actively listen to others story attentively
Compliments their experience with training
Somebody who can take their time and knows that everything in due time
We believe lived experience provides the best foundation for being a brilliant support worker. Complimented with a heart of gold nature and tailored professional training.
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.
