Mental health organisations join forces to create new peer support guides

FIVE Scottish mental health and wellbeing organisations have joined forces to create a series of free guides to help anyone who wants to run a peer support group.

Scottish Recovery Network brought together a range of people already delivering their own groups to co-design this flexible set of resources. Peer Facilitators from Moray Wellbeing Hub, The Peer Community (Edinburgh), North Ayrshire Wellbeing and Recovery College (RAMH) and Bipolar Aberdeen shared learning and experiences resulting in four new practical guides.

The Let’s do Peer Group Facilitation guides provide insights and activities exploring themes such as what a healthy peer support group looks like; boundaries and why they matter; as well as key considerations for anyone in the Peer Facilitator role. They are deliberately designed to give people a direction of travel but also allow them to divert along the way – dipping in and out of the resource – to suit their own needs. The guides are complemented by a short film from the contributors who talk about their top tips for running peer support groups.

On developing the resources Jeanette Allan from RAMH’s North Ayrshire Wellbeing and Recovery College (NAWRC) said:

“It’s been interesting to work with like-minded colleagues and cross-fertilise our ideas and come up with a really useful resource. I’m involved in the Recovery College; we have a peer pathway and we teach a peer facilitation course. And it’s been really interesting to test out some of our ideas with the Peer Facilitators in North Ayrshire. And it’s been an excellent experience co-producing a resource together.”

Sandra a student at UHI and recipient of the guides commented:

“Just wanted to say that I’m really impressed with the Let’s Do Peer Group Facilitation resource that you’ve sent me, thank you. It’s exactly what I’ve been looking for; puts the practice of peer group work into a simple, easy-to-follow guide. I’m recommending it right, left and centre.”

On the launch of the Let’s do Peer Facilitation Guides Louise Christie, Director of, the Scottish Recovery Network said:

“Scottish Recovery Network are privileged to work with people, groups, services and organisations to develop and sustain peer support across the country. We see amazing peer support work at a grassroots community level. People and groups who are passionate about well-being and mental health recovery. We are delighted that these groups are starting to be recognised and are keen to play our part in championing and supporting them. These practical and adaptable guides will be added to our existing resources in The Peer Recovery Hub on the Scottish Recovery Network website and are available to all.”

You can order your free Let’s do Peer Group Facilitation directly by following this link: https://bit.ly/PeerGuidesSignMeUp.