The Power of Peer Providers in Mental Health Services

Book excerpt: "People with lived experience of mental illness and recovery are joining leagues of skilled providers who offer services to meet the needs of people with serious psychiatric disorders. The emergence of peer power rides the crest of insights that appeared over the past 50 years related to hope, recovery, and self-determination. Key to these insights is support: coaches, navigators, mentors, and care coordinators who are in the field, addressing the person's goals, and barriers to goals, as they emerge. Peers can clearly learn the interpersonal and instrumental skills of support. In fact, their learned experience may give them special skills and insight into this supportiveness. This book is a deep review into both the conceptual and empirical elements of peer support services"--