Peer support is help from someone who has lived through mental health challenges and is trained to support others facing something similar. It is built on shared experience: the person supporting you understands what you are going through because they have been there.
This guide explains what peer support is in mental health, what a peer support worker does, the different forms it takes, what the research says, and how to find it in Ontario.
What peer support means
The Mental Health Commission of Canada describes peer support as a relationship in which someone who has lived experience of a mental health challenge, and is on their own path of recovery, supports another person with a mental health challenge. That shared experience can come from their own mental health or from supporting a loved one.
What makes peer support different is the relationship. The two people meet as equals, not as expert and patient. The peer worker draws on what they have lived through, and offers it in a way that is useful to you.
Peer support happens informally all the time, between friends or in community groups. This guide focuses on formal peer support, offered by trained peer workers through programs, organizations and platforms.
What a peer support worker does
A peer support worker might:
- listen without judging, because they know how hard it can be to talk
- share parts of their own story when it helps you
- help you set goals that matter in your everyday life
- help you understand your options and find your way through the mental health system
- help you prepare for appointments and follow through afterwards
- support you while you wait for other services, or after a hospital stay
Peer workers do not diagnose conditions, prescribe medication or provide crisis care. They work alongside doctors, therapists and other services, not instead of them.
Types of peer support
One-to-one peer support
You meet regularly with one peer worker, in person, by phone or online. This suits people who want a steady relationship and support with personal goals.
Peer support groups
A group of people with shared experiences meets regularly, usually with a trained facilitator. Groups can focus on a specific experience, such as depression, psychosis, grief or substance use, or be open to anyone.
Online peer support
Many peer workers and groups now meet online. This can make support easier to reach if you live outside a big city, have mobility needs or find it easier to talk from home.
Family peer support
Family peer supporters have supported a loved one through mental health challenges. They help other families understand the system, cope with what they are facing and look after themselves.
Peer-run organizations
In Ontario, peer-run organizations, sometimes called consumer/survivor initiatives, are run by and for people with lived experience. Many offer drop-ins, groups, advocacy and one-to-one support.
What peer support is built on
The Mental Health Commission of Canada's peer support guidelines set out values for formal peer support. Among them:
- Hope and recovery: the belief that people can and do recover, and that recovery looks different for everyone
- Self-determination: you make the decisions about your own life and support
- Equal relationships: the peer worker walks alongside you rather than directing you
- Dignity and respect: you are treated as a whole person, not a diagnosis
What the research says
The Mental Health Commission of Canada's report Making the Case for Peer Support reviewed Canadian and international research and gathered input from hundreds of people across Canada. It found that studies have shown benefits for the people receiving peer support, and for the mental health system and communities as well, including fewer and shorter hospital stays.
Research on peer support is still growing, and results vary between programs. The strongest case for peer support is as a complement to clinical care, which is how the Commission's guidelines describe it.
Who peer support can help
Peer support may suit you if you:
- want to talk with someone who understands what this is like from the inside
- feel alone with what you are going through
- are waiting for therapy or a psychiatrist appointment
- are coming home after a hospital stay, or adjusting to a new diagnosis
- find the mental health system confusing
- are supporting a family member and need support yourself
If you want an assessment, a diagnosis or treatment for symptoms, start with your doctor or a therapist. Our guide to peer support vs therapy explains the difference in detail.
How to find peer support in Ontario
- Canadian Mental Health Association branches: many run free peer support programs and groups
- Peer-run organizations: drop-ins, groups and one-to-one support run by people with lived experience
- Hospitals: some have peer workers on inpatient units or in outpatient programs, so ask your care team
- ConnexOntario: call 1-866-531-2600 or text CONNEX to 247247 to find services near you
- KristKonkrd: browse verified peer workers, check their availability and request a session
Common questions
What is a peer support worker
A peer support worker is someone with lived experience of mental health challenges who is trained to support others going through something similar. They listen, share what helped them and help people work toward their goals. They do not diagnose or prescribe.
Is peer support the same as therapy
No. Therapy is treatment from a regulated professional with clinical training. Peer support comes from a trained peer with lived experience, and focuses on connection, everyday goals and finding your way through the system. Many people use the two together.
Is peer support free
Sometimes. Many Canadian Mental Health Association branches and peer-run organizations offer free peer support and groups. Peer support from independent peer workers, including on KristKonkrd, is usually paid, and OHIP does not cover it.
Who can become a peer supporter
People with lived experience of mental health challenges, or of supporting a loved one through them, can train as peer supporters. Read our guide on how to become a peer support worker in Ontario.
Key takeaways
- Peer support is help from a trained peer who has lived through similar mental health challenges.
- It comes in many forms: one-to-one, groups, online, family peer support and peer-run organizations.
- Peer workers do not diagnose, prescribe or provide crisis care.
- Research gathered by the Mental Health Commission of Canada links peer support with benefits for individuals and the health system.
- It works best alongside clinical care, and many people use the two together.
Ready to talk with someone who has been there? Browse peer workers on KristKonkrd.