What is a Peer Support in the field of Behavioral Health?

Adult Peer Support refers to the intentional use of lived experience with serious mental illness (SMI) and recovery to provide mutual support, guidance, and encouragement to others who are living with similar challenges.

In mental health treatment, peer support specialists are trained individuals who have their own personal histories of living with and managing symptoms of mental illness.

They use these experiences, combined with specialized training, to help others build hope, develop coping strategies, and engage in recovery-oriented services.

At Bridgehaven, individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing are part of unique group who provide peer support services to others who are also deaf or hard of hearing using American Sign Language to communicate their lived experiences.