Peer support in Criminal Justice Services

What is peer support?

Peer support takes place when people with experience of mental distress support each other towards better wellbeing, as people of equal value and on a reciprocal basis, using their own lived experience as a tool for support.

We know from experience that peer support can help people to take huge strides forward towards better wellbeing. People who have experienced mental distress can offer privileged insight and understanding, and draw on their own experiences to help others. The support they give can be an extremely effective complement to support given by mental health professionals, or a lifeline to those for whom traditional mental health support has not worked.

You can read more about Together’s overall approach to peer support here.

Peer support in our criminal justice services

Our Peer Supporters draw on their own experiences of emotional distress and the criminal justice system, as a tool to support others overcome similar challenges.

How do  Peer Supporters help people?

• Encouraging support amongst peers and wider social networks
• Emotional support
• Accessing community support
• Longer term support (up to one year)
• 1-2-1 meetings
• Providing emotional support to attend appointments
• Support over the phone
• Provide emotional
• Advice and signposting to other services and resources