A peer is a person with lived experience of recovery from mental illness or addiction. By combining this experience with skills learned in formal training, peer specialists (e.g., certified peer specialist, peer support specialist, recovery coach) deliver services in behavioral health settings to support long-term recovery.
Peer specialists are open about their lived experience and can be most effective when a program is recovery-oriented.
Peer specialists support recovery, the process of change where people with a mental health disorder or substance use disorder improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential (SAMHSA, 2014).
Recovery is a non-linear process. It is not a defined set of tasks that are the same for everyone. It is highly individual and contains times of progress and times of relapse. There are many roads to recovery.
Project Vida Peer Support Specialists: Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Jamie Bailey M.S, LCDC, PSS, RSPS
Lead Peer Recovery Support Specialist (915) 234-9442
More Information: https://www.pvida.net/behavioral-health [pvida.net]
Harm Reduction Information: https://harmreduction.org/about-us/principles-of-harm-reduction/ [harmreduction.org]