The Mental Health Commission of Canada defines peer support workers as those who provide “emotional and social support provided to others who share a common experience (Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2022).” Evidence shows that the integration of peer support workers into mental health services has many benefits, but developing these programs has several challenges. Some challenges include being able to maintain professional boundaries, difficulties with power dynamics among staff, job-related stress, and role clarity.
In this research snapshot, we look at the findings from a recent literature review, which uses an implementation science lens to identify best practices for putting in place a peer support program in mental health services.