A Peer Specialist is someone with their own experience of struggling with mental health and/or substance use, and, combined with formal state-sponsored training and continuing education, serves peers who are facing their own emotional challenges. Peer support is a 100% voluntary service driven by the peer's vision and priorities and focuses on the emotional connecting/sharing between two people who have their own experiences of coping with mental health/substance use challenges.
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eer Support should not be used for or replace services/tasks such as errand-running, use of transportation, or navigting general resources not mutually included in the peer and peer supporter's experience.
Note: "Peer" is defined as the person being referred for peer support.