The values and value of peer support

Peer supporters draw from their experiential knowledge – the happenings, emotions, and insights of their experiences – as they listen to and interact with peers who seek their help.

There are five core values that are essential to peer support. They are:

1. Experience in common: peers share similar backgrounds, experiences, interests, or goals.
2. Safety: peer support has structures in place to create physical and emotional safety and one of those structures is the supervision that peer supporters should be offered.
3. Choice and control: peers have choice and control in how they are involved in their peer support.
4. Human connection: peers develop meaningful connections with one another.
5. Freedom to be oneself: peers feel able to express themselves and be themselves in peer support.