Peer Support is More Than A Treatment Intervention - It’s A Community!
The peer support movement is gaining momentum. The post-COVID era, combined with the growing peer support profession, has created a focus on the importance of managing self-care better. People are talking about their mental health whether they have a diagnosis or not. While peer support services are normalizing treatment, recovery lifestyles, and reducing the stigma and barriers to wellness.
Peer specialists are a growing profession across the nation of the United States. States found ways to add “peer support” as a Medicaid-billable service. I’ve worked as a peer counselor (known as a certified peer specialist in Georgia) for over 13 years.
Schizophrenia treatment available through Medicaid
Medicaid-billable peer support services include persons in recovery modeling healthy coping skills and self-care practices, along with the implementation of evidence-based interventions for peers and clients. For instance, peer-led interventions include Mary Ellen Copeland’s crisis planning, which is an informal psychiatric advance directive, the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP).
The Whole Health Action Management (WHAM) program empowers peers with a holistic approach to wellness. The WHAM lessons examine the importance of goal-setting, having a healthy diet, practicing socialization skills through volunteering or service to others, and stress management and restful sleep, among other key components.
However, Medicaid-billable peer support services encompass more than role modeling wellness and creating coping tools to manage life. There are “warm-lines” which are non-emergency hotlines. Trained peer mental health professionals engage in peer support via phone by ensuring people living with mental health conditions have an outlet to feel heard and respected. This is a way to connect, empower, and to reduce the stigma of shame and guilt of living with a mental health diagnosis.
This or That
Have you ever used a warm-line for support?
What is a respite center for schizophrenia recovery?
In Georgia, we have respite centers for adults living in recovery. They allow peers to stay overnight in houses that are located in communities across the state. There are about six homes in the state of Georgia. These homes cater to people living with behavioral health challenges.
The houses are peer-led. Generally, they hold three to four bedrooms for peers to reside for up to seven days. It is a drug-free site and peers must identify with having a diagnosis even if it’s unofficial and self-proclaimed. The peer-led staff doesn’t distribute medication. Peers must bring their own medicine to practice medication compliance which is their own responsibility.
Peers become friends and provide support
Peer support services are more than a treatment intervention movement - it’s become a community. There are many familiar faces across the state of Georgia, because we are a community of persons in recovery. Most of my friends are living in recovery with similar diagnoses. Frequently, we check in with each other like family. Our conversations focus on daily happenings and include coping strategies to handle the stresses of life. We participate in support groups and other recovery-oriented activities together.
Coping strategies for schizophrenia
There’s no shame in asking for help, guidance, and skills to control symptoms. For example, I’ve had friends ask me how I cope with my symptoms. Once, my girlfriend asked me to provide insight on methods I use to overcome depression because she was feeling low and wanted to get out of a dark space. I shared my coping skills, such as the importance of managing personal hygiene, engaging in peer support, exercising, and journaling, among other strategies to stay well.
Reducing stigma through peer support and recovery
These conversations are common and reiterate the fact that we are human, normal, and can take ownership of our recovery to maintain wellness. While not being shamed nor looked at any differently.
Peer support has become a way of life for me. I encourage newly diagnosed peers to take advantage of the peer support services and to engage in our community of support. Peer support is not only helpful but highly effective at reducing the stigma that hinders recovery. Peer support helps people get the help needed without shame.