What Is
Peer Support?
Peer support describes a relationship of trust between one individual facing a challenging life experience, and another individual who has faced a similar life experience and is trained to provide support.
This relationship acknowledges the power of empathy and validation, as individuals with shared experiences are uniquely positioned to understand and support one another.
This act of human connection is the reason that peer support within any community generates immense social value, and is an effective complement to clinical care. It offers broad benefits when introduced at any point in the wellness journey of an individual.
In our most vulnerable moments, our most basic need as human beings is to be heard and to know that we are not alone.
Is Peer Support Effective?
Much has been written about the transformative impact that small gestures of support and empathetic human connection can have at various times in our lives.
This video from the Ottawa Police Peer Support team captures the importance of offering peer support services to all individuals in your community; it speaks to the critical role that peer support plays in protecting mental wellness when two people who share a common life experience interact in a manner that respects the core values of peer support.