Peer Support

Peer Support is fundamental to the concept of recovery
Bottom Curve
Who we are

Mind Jersey provide volunteer based Peer support. This type of support is when people use their own lived experiences to help someone else who needs support from someone who understands. Support is based on sharing and empowering those who access the service to achieve by focusing on an individual’s strengths rather than their weakness. How peers choose to meet up or connect is flexible and depends on an individual’s personal preferences and goals. Peer support can improve your emotional health, wellbeing and sense of belonging.

A vital part of peer support is mutual respect; peer support aims to help both those giving and receiving support. Everyone's experiences are treated as equally important, so you might find this gives you a different experience to more traditional support options.

Peer Support 1
What we do

Through purposeful one to one sessions, we can provide social, emotional or practical support from our volunteers who all have lived experience of various mental health conditions.

The support that you receive will be based upon shared experiences, empathy and mutual agreement about what is helpful in the recovery journey. Our approach is always non-directive and recovery focussed.

We are not experts – nor do we provide clinical advice.

Benefits

As part of the start-up phase in the Island, and in accordance with our commitment to promote service user involvement, we have conducted a full consultation with service users. You can read about the findings of this consultation in the Peer Support in Jersey consultation report. Existing research has highlighted many benefits from the introduction of peer support services including:

  • Shared identity
  • Increased self-confidence
  • Developing and sharing skills
  • Improved mental health and wellbeing, accompanied by reduced use of mental health and other services
  • An increased role in information sharing and signposting
  • Challenging stigma and discrimination
  • Feeling of benefiting others

We also liaise closely with colleagues from the Mental Health Service and other partner organisations to ensure the service is founded upon a multi-agency approach and is true co-produced.

“I’m so glad that I have met my peer support worker as she has been so positive and supportive since the beginning. Before I called Mind I was feeling lonely, isolated and depressed. I was so glad I phoned as they put me in touch with someone who has the same disorder as I do. It was so nice to be able to empathise with someone. We would meet for a coffee and go for a walk. It was lovely to be with someone so understanding.”

Making Sense Of Peer Support

We will do our best to address any individual needs or barriers you foresee to accessing peer support.

If you have any concerns or would like to discuss your support needs in more detail please contact us using the details given below.

For more information please click on the following links.

Contact Us

Peer Support Manager

Jennifer Browne