PEER and TEAM SUPPORT in Mental Health: recovery through user's experience

<< Background >>In the field of mental health, peer support emerged as an innovative approach for individuals with psychiatric disorders. Former users in recovery, by sharing experiences, helped current users move toward recovery. Studies highlighted multiple benefits—renewed hope, stronger caregiver-user understanding, and reduced stigma. These practices developed mainly in English-speaking countries like Canada, the U.S., and the U.K., where significant expertise was built. Training programs existed in Europe but varied in duration, content, and certification, with no standardized framework. A transnational approach was needed to recognize experiential knowledge and integrate peer supporters into professional settings. However, teams were rarely prepared to hire them. Lack of understanding of recovery, misconceptions about peer support, unrealistic expectations, and reluctance to change practices often led to failed integration, harming both peer supporters and service users. ​<< Objectives >>The partnership aims to tackle the issue of professionalizing peer support work in the mental health sector across Europe. The project has several key objectives: to innovate the carer-user relationship by structurally integrating peer support into the care pathway; to enhance the employment prospects of peer support workers by strengthening their professional profiles and ensuring training is appropriate; to better prepare professional teams to welcome and integrate peer support workers into their practices by supporting the team throughout the entire integration process; and to encourage innovation and the exchange of best practices on these topics. This initiative seeks not only to improve the quality of support provided but also to ensure that peer support workers are adequately trained and supported in their roles, fostering a more collaborative and effective environment in mental health care.<< Implementation >>To address these needs and ultimately reinforce the employability of peer support workers, the partners developed several productions: 1) a Competence Framework for peer support workers; 2) a Standardized Training Profile; 3) Training Material for (future) mental health professionals; 4) a Methodological Framework to support peer support workers and implement InterVision's; and 5) a MOOC. The inclusion of the main target group of the project (users of mental health services and peer support workers) in the development of these tools was of high importance to address the real needs of the sector and stakeholders. As a consequence, the productions were co-created by peer support worker associations in collaboration with mental health professionals, academics, and researchers<< Results >>The project yielded significant concrete outputs and other valuable results. As stated by the World Health Organization (WHO), peer support has been explored by individuals in recovery, services, institutions, and the peer supporters themselves. It was found that peer support is feasible, acceptable, and beneficial to all parties involved. The productions of the project aimed to have a wide impact on mental health users, institutions, professionals, and other stakeholders. The improved employability and recognized skills of peer support workers, combined with the inclusion of experiential knowledge, provided benefits to all target groups and the mental health system as a whole. Additionally, the project facilitated a deeper understanding of mental health issues, fostering greater empathy among professionals and stakeholders. It also expanded the network of contacts for each participant, creating opportunities for collaboration and support within the community. Participants reported enhanced communication skills and increased confidence in their roles, further contributing to a more inclusive and supportive mental health environment. Overall, the initiative not only strengthened individual capacities but also enriched the collective knowledge and resources available within the mental health sector.