The Bible asks us to “carry each other’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). Now people with mental illness have way to do that: peer support. This resource helps both those struggling with their illnesses and those who are well into recovery. And it brings help and hope.
Peer support is a model of care in which individuals who have lived experience with mental illness and/or substance use recovery provide help and encouragement to others struggling with those issues.
The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration says peer support workers encourage others to seek treatment, build hope, set goals and stay engaged in care. Because the support is based on shared experience rather than professional distance, it can be powerful.
It is just as powerful for the peer specialists themselves. They have a useful job to do and new purpose in their lives.
What Do Peer Support Specialists Actually Do?
Peer support specialists go through a training process and are often certified to:
- Offer emotional support during difficult seasons
- Explain how treatment helped them and encourage seeking it
- Help individuals set recovery goals
- Navigate the mental health system (appointments, housing, services)
- Lead support groups or recovery meetings
- Advocate for patient needs
They work alongside therapists, psychiatrists and social workers as part of a care team. For caregivers, this means your loved one is not walking alone—and neither are you.
The Evidence: Does Peer Support Really Help?
Yes! Research and national mental health organizations have found that peer support:
- Increases engagement in treatment
- Reduces hospitalizations
- Improves quality of life and social connection
Mental Health America states that peer services strengthen recovery outcomes and help individuals stay connected to care. For families, this can mean fewer crises, greater stability and renewed hope.
When people disabled by mental illness for many years become peers, they start to do important work. If they work part-time, they can keep important disability benefits while having a new purpose. This also allows them to see how much work is possible before symptoms worsen, all while in a supportive work environment. Their mental illness or past addiction is a requirement for the job!
The Current System: Access Is Uneven
Access to peer support depends heavily on insurance coverage. Most states cover peer support through Medicaid. It also can be available through nonprofits, community health centers or local agencies.
However, for older adults and individuals with disabilities—those covered by Medicare—access has historically been limited.
Pay for peer support specialists is low, which makes the practical aspects of transition off benefits difficult. However, part-time work may be the best for the specialists to deal with the stress of this kind of work. Generally that keeps a paycheck low enough to retain disability and health care benefits from Medicare/Medicaid.
The PEERS in Medicare Act: A Promising Step Forward
The Promoting Effective and Empowering Recovery Services (PEERS) in Medicare Act is a bipartisan effort in Congress aimed at expanding access to peer support.
The legislation would require Medicare to cover peer support services across a variety of settings, including:
- Community mental health centers
- Rural health clinics
- Federally qualified health centers
- Certified behavioral health clinics
This would bring peer support to millions of Medicare beneficiaries—many of whom are currently underserved.
Why It Matters for Families
If enacted, the PEERS Act could:
- Provide new support options for your loved one
- Reduce caregiver burden
- Improve long-term recovery outcomes
- Expand services in rural and underserved areas
Organizations like National Alliance on Mental Illness and National Council for Mental Wellbeing support the legislation, noting its potential to expand access to “lifesaving peer support services.”
Current Status (2025–2026)
As of now, the PEERS Act has been reintroduced in Congress with bipartisan support but has not yet been passed into law. Its future will depend on ongoing legislative action.
If you are caring for someone with severe mental illness, here are ways to explore peer support:
1. Ask Providers Directly
Inquire whether your loved one’s care team includes peer specialists.
2. Contact Local Organizations
Groups like National Alliance on Mental Illness often offer peer-led programs and support groups for both individuals and families.
3. Advocate for Access
Follow and support policies like the PEERS Act that expand services.
As a caregiver, you are already doing sacred work.
You:
- Show Christlike compassion.
- Bear burdens that others may never see.
- Stand in the gap for someone who cannot stand alone.
Peer support can give you additional voices of encouragement, hands to help and testimonies of encouragement. And, when your loved one begins to recover, peer support can offer an important job to do.