The experience of certified peer specialists in mental health

Certified peer specialists (CPS) are mental health consumers in recovery from their illness who received special training enabling them to work as paid mental health staff to support other consumers not as advanced in their recovery. This research sought to understand the barriers and facilitators of effective CPS work using a qualitative approach. The CPS that were interviewed reported that the major barriers to effective work are agencies that are not sufficiently recovery oriented, and professional providers who do not understand the CPS role. CPS reported that facilitators included a sense that the work was rewarding, and that the organizations and supervisors were supportive.