A new online hub to help people plan and deliver mental health peer support was officially launched by Scotland’s social care minister this week.

Maree Todd MSP told attendees of the ‘Future is Peer’ event held earlier this week in Glasgow that she was delighted to launch the refreshed website and free resources.

Hosted by the Scottish Recovery Network, Wednesday’s event brought together mental health groups, organisations and services to celebrate and champion the role of peer support across Scotland’s mental health system.

Peer support involves mutual support between people with similar life experiences who offer each other help as they move through challenging or difficult times.

The Scottish Recovery Network says this approach ensures people are able to access support at the earliest opportunity, ensuring the right support is there for people and their families at the right time.

Awareness of the positive impacts of peer support is growing across Scotland, with it now a key feature of government strategies on mental health and wellbeing, suicide prevention and perinatal mental health.

Ms Todd told the event that she hopes the launch of new tools and ideas in the Peer Recovery Hub online resource will be hugely valuable to people looking to develop their own peer support:

“I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in The Future is Peer event highlighting the prominent role of peer support in mental health recovery.

“It is encouraging to see so many people and organisations coming together to celebrate the power of peer support.

“We know the valuable benefits that peer support brings in mental health and it is important that we continue to develop and highlight this work.”

Event participants were able to take part in workshops and hear about the power of mutual support in mental health recovery, as well as explore opportunities to build upon and sustain initiatives.

Due to demand for the in-person event, the Scottish Recovery Network will now also host an online version on the 20th of March.

 Louise Christie, Director at Scottish Recovery Network, commented:

“We’re pulling out all the stops to support and showcase all the fantastic peer support activity happening in Scotland.

“Connecting with others with similar experiences provides a place where people can share, be listened to and heard. It helps people to see that they are not alone.

“This mutual sharing is powerful in that we can be supported while also supporting others on their journey. Peer support can contribute to making sure people receive help at the earliest opportunity. It can ensure the right support is there for people and their families at the right time.

“This event (and the digital version happening in March) celebrates peer support already happening while providing space to explore the challenges of bringing peer support to more people and places.”

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