Valuing peer support

This article reviews a broad range of written material about peer support for people with mental health difficulties. Its aim is to share examples of peer support in practice through showing the effectiveness of this approach for those taking an active part and its correlation with Recovery practice as adopted by mental health service providers. The intention is to make resources on peer support accessible to a wide audience, so that individuals affected by mental distress and their supporters, KMPT working together with voluntary sector providers, can learn from existing evidence. This shared learning holds the possibility of organisations more fully utilising peer support as a resource within local contexts. The benefits of peer support are fully demonstrated through the written material. A way forward is suggested in people with lived experience of distress and use of services being paid as peer support workers and group facilitators. This step of paying for peer support for those who want this arrangement values their contribution, provides chosen employment and changes the nature of the mental health workforce to one that challenges discrimination and is truly recovery focused. The review shows that the creation of the right conditions for peer support could empower individuals with lived experience of mental distress to lead and change services as well as taking control of their own lives.