As peer support grows as a discipline in Canada, it is being integrated into mental health and addiction care. However, peer supporters working in such integrated systems in the US and UK still experience stigma, role ambiguity, and tensions with other staff (Matthews et al., 2023; Vandewalle et al., 2016). Similarly, given that peer supporters have lived experience as a patient in mental health and addiction care, this begs the question: Is integration without risk?

In partnership with Lifewise, a leading peer support organization based in Newfoundland & Labrador, the current research aims are two-fold: a) to capture the larger organizational context of peer support as a discipline in Canada; and b) examine how the peer supporter role, in a mental healthcare context, might affect one’s mental health and well-being, compared with working in the community or traditional peer support.

To address this issue, we will survey and interview peer supporters regarding their mental health and well-being, workplace experiences, and perceptions of their roles within the system. For example, we plan to measure factors such as workplace burnout, compassion fatigue, and role ambiguity. These important findings will provide a clearer picture of peer support in Canada, informing practice and implementation.

This project is co-funded in partnership with Mitacs and iA Financial Group.