Peer Support Workers

Peer Support Workers (PSWs) are individuals who have experienced mental health challenges, either themselves or as a carer. They are employed by the Trust to use their personal experiences to support others on their recovery journey.

PSWs bring lived experience relevant to the service they are working in and use it as a lens, viewing and making sense of what is going on for the service user through the perspective of someone who has personally experienced and navigated the process of mental health recovery. They play an important role in mental health teams contributing to service user care by providing a unique insight into the challenges, triumphs, and nuances of the recovery journey.

Through sharing their experiences of recovery Peer Support Workers inspire hope, demonstrate the possibility of recovery, and empower service users to pursue their own path towards living a meaningful life alongside mental health challenges.

By offering empathy, compassion, and a deep understanding of recovery, peer support provides service users with a tangible connection, a feeling they are not alone, and that other people understand and may share their experiences. In this trusting relationship PSWs create a safe environment where individuals can begin to build hope and self-belief.

Watch our video below to find out more about the work of our Peer Support Workers.