Authentic peer support work: challenges and opportunities for an evolving occupation

The peer support worker (PSW) belongs to the fastest growing occupation in the mental health sector, yet it is often under-valued and poorly understood. Despite an emerging evidence base, and strong support from mental health service users, the PSW remains on the periphery of mainstream services in northeastern Ontario.

To examine the role of the PSW, along with the challenges and benefits, and to understand why the PSW is not more integrated within mainstream services.

A sequential, exploratory, mixed-methods design was used to collect data on 52 survey and 33 focus group participants. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically.

Peer support work was described by participants as being authentic when PSWs can draw upon lived experience, engage in mutually beneficial discussions, and be a role model. Authentic peer support was noted to be important to the recovery of mental health service users; yet, participants revealed that many positions continue to reflect more generic duties. Challenges to further integration include acceptance, training and credentialing, self-care, and voluntarism.

Future development and mainstream integration of peer support work must reconcile current tensions between standardization and loss of authenticity. Training in communicating the lived experience, setting boundaries and self-care are important steps forward.