Peer support

Peer support is a support initiative, normally within a school or university, to help pupils deal with issues such as bullying, stress, or other problems that they may come across while at school. Peer support normally consists of trained teenagers, and can take a number of forms, such as mentors, listening, or counseling.

Peer support is also used to refer to initiatives where colleagues, members of self help organizations and others meet as equals to give each other support on a reciprocal basis. Peer in this case is taken to imply that each person has no more expertise as a supporter than the other and the relationship is one of equality.

Peer Listening
This form of Peer support is the most common form, and the most widely used within Schools. Peer Supporters are trained, normally from within schools or universities, or sometimes by outside organizations, such as Childline's CHIPS (Childline In Partnership With Schools) program, to be active "listeners". Within schools, peer-supporters are normally available at break or lunch times.

Peer Counseling
Less widely used, as this approach requires more training. Peer Supporters are required to act as counselors to the students. Some believe that this is not the most effective approach, as teenagers can often give wrong, or potentially harmful advice.

In co-counselling this problem does not arise as the person acting as counselor has a limited role that specifically does not include giving advice.

Peer Mediation
Whereby incidents of bullying are overcome by bringing the victim and the bully together, under mediation by one of their peers.

Peer Support in Mental Health
Consumers of mental health programs grouping together and forming non profit organizations that serve to enhance the mental health of other consumers. See also Certified Peer Support Specialist Self-help, Person centered planning and Self-determination.