Policy Changes, Advocacy Are Key Components in Closing Gaps in Behavioral Health

Peer Support SpecialistsPeer specialists are individuals with lived experience of mental health, substance use, trauma, legal involvement, and/or homelessness who are trained to help others engage in the recovery process.Peers have the unique experience of being a service recipient and provider within behavioral health and/or justice settings.Peers develop rapport with people seeking services and contribute invaluable insights to treatment teams based on their personal experience in navigating service systems. Populations ServedPeers may provide services to a variety of people (see Figure 1).Almost all reporting SMHAs (98%) are using mental health peer specialists to serve adults with behavioral health conditions and parents of children/youth with SED.SMHAs less frequently (52%) report utilizing youth peer support specialists.