Peer:

A Peer is a person of lived experience/expertise of marginalization and vulnerabilities including trauma, abuse, homelessness, mental health illness, addictions or substance abuse, violence and victimization, law involvement. A Peer has simply ‘been there and done that’, identifies with one, more, or many more of the above including experience with racism, stigma, oppression, poverty, physical challenges and crisis.

Peer Supporter/Mentor:

A Peer Supporter or Peer Mentor is a professionally trained Peer who supports a Peer’s journey of recovery in a strength-based approach, empowering a Peer’s self-determined goals. A Peer Supporter draws on their credential of lived experience of recovery (wellness) and provides trusted allyship, tools, skills and recovery pathways by listening to core root issues of their Peer.

The Peer Supporter is an engagement specialist, navigator, and connecter to other positive relationships in community. A Peer Supporter is a coach, advocate, and models hope through ongoing recovery as an essential part of a primary care/circle of care team.

Peer Specialists are employed in healthcare settings such as hospitals.