title: Peer support: a theoretical perspective.
abstract: This article offers one theoretical perspective of peer support and attempts to define the elements that, when reinforced through education and training, provide a new cultural context for healing and recovery. Persons labeled with psychiatric disability have become victims of social and cultural ostracism and consequently have developed a sense of self that reinforces the "patient" identity. Enabling members of peer support to understand the nature and impact of these cultural forces leads individuals and peer communities toward a capacity for personal, relational, and social change. It is our hope that consumers from all different types of programs (e.g. drop-in, social clubs, advocacy, support, outreach, respite), traditional providers, and policy makers will find this article helpful in stimulating dialogue about the role of peer programs in the development of a recovery based system.
authors.affiliation: Fielding Institute, USA. www.mead@mentalhealthpeers.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mead
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hilton
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Curtis
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010379:Peer Group; D012944:Social Support