What Is Peer Support
Connection, lived experience and support grounded in choice.
Why Peer Support Matters
Peer support brings people together through shared lived experience, hope and connection. It supports people in defining their own goals and moving forward in ways that matter to them.
The Foundation of Peer Support
Lived Experience as a Source of Knowledge
Our experiences can offer insight, understanding and connection. They do not make us experts on another person's life. Peer support makes room for shared learning and individual choice.
Pause and Consider
What experiences have shaped the way you connect with or support others?
Core Values of Peer Support
While peer support can look different across settings and communities, several common values often guide the work:
✔ Hope
✔ Self-determination
✔ Respect
✔ Mutuality
✔ Authenticity
✔ Person-centered support
✔ Strengths-based approaches
✔ Cultural humility
Explore Peer Support
Take a closer look at the relationships, communities, and practices that shape peer support.
Key Takeaways
Peer support is an important and growing approach that makes a difference in many lives.
✔ Grounded in lived experience
✔ Built through connection and mutual learning
✔ Guided by individual choice
✔ Present across many communities
✔ Respectful of diverse populations
✔ Both a community practice and a profession
Keep Exploring
Continue learning about peer roles, values and practice.