What is Peer Support?
A peer support worker is someone with the lived experience of recovery from a mental health condition, substance use disorder, or both. Peer support offers a level of acceptance, understanding, and validation not found in many other professional relationships. Having guidance and support from someone who has “been there” is what many in recovery value the most about Peer Support Services.
The peer support worker's role is to assist people with finding and following their own recovery paths, without judgment, expectation, rules, or requirements. They also provide a variety of outreach and engagement activities.
How Can a Peer Specialist Help?
Peer Specialists offer non judgemental crisis support, emotional support and relapse prevention. A Peer Specialist may help:
Identify and develop personal strengths that can assist you with maintaining recovery goals and managing mental illness.
Build peer relationships and create stronger natural support networks.
Enhance social skills allowing you to live, work and participate more fully in your communities.
Navigate community services and resources
What is a “Certified” Peer Specialist?
All Certified Peer Specialists in New York State need to meet specific requirements: be at least 18 years of age, have earned a high school diploma, complete 18 on-line courses/exams, and publicly (self-determined) acknowledge that they have or are currently using mental health services. Certification also requires completing 2,000 hours of supervised peer specialist work. Mental Health Association Peer Specialists are trained through the NYS Academy of Peer Services and certification is administered and authorized through the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board (NYPSCB). New York Certified Peer Specialist certification is funded through the New York State Office of Mental Health (NYSOMH).
Learn more at Academy of Peer Services or New York Peer Specialist.