Providing Peer Support Across Settings

MaineHealth peer support team members have lived experience with challenges in maintaining mental health and/or recovery from substance use. Through the peer support model, peer support team members connect with individuals who have or are currently struggling with mental health and/or substance use, sharing their lived experiences in a way that strengthens both people’s recovery/wellness.

Peer support team members meet individually with people, facilitate peer support groups, educate others, and conduct outreach. Through discussions around shared experiences and challenges, people struggling with mental health and/or substance use can build upon personal strengths while exploring the benefits and practice of healthy relationships.

Peer support team members work in a variety of settings from hospital emergency departments, to behavioral health and primary care practices, to behavioral health home teams.

Tracking Progress

Between October 2020 and October 2022, MBH’s peer support recovery team received 760 referrals from 8 MaineHealth emergency departments

• 100% of referrals from the emergency departments were responded to within 72 hours

364 individuals engaged in a peer support relationship after their emergency department visit

• 94% of peer support participants report their participation in the program as meaningful
• 83% of participants report that peer support has improved important aspects of their life
• 86% of participants report feeling more hopeful as a result of peer support