What Is Peer Support in Mental Health?
Short answer
Peer support is help from someone trained to use their own lived experience of a mental health or substance use condition, or of caring for someone who has one. SAMHSA describes it as non-clinical support that complements, but does not replace, therapy and other treatment. In New York, peer specialists can earn a state-recognized certification, and NYC 988 callers can ask for peer support.
In crisis or thinking about suicide? Call or text 988 now (in New York City it reaches NYC 988). If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
This guide is not enough if
- You might act on thoughts of suicide right now: call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
- You need to talk with someone today: call or text 988.
- You need a diagnosis, a treatment plan or a decision about medicine. Those come from a licensed clinician.
- You want to become a certified peer specialist. This guide is for people looking for support, not for training rules.
Why people look for peer support
Sometimes what helps most is talking with someone who has been through something similar. You may be living with depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety or a substance use problem, or you may be a parent trying to support a child. A peer has lived experience of recovery and is trained to use it to help others. SAMHSA notes that this shared experience is the base of the relationship, whether the peer has been through a condition themselves or has supported a family member through one.
If you are in crisis right now, call or text 988, or call 911 if you are in danger. In New York City, you can ask for a peer on the 988 line, which this guide explains below.
What a peer specialist does
SAMHSA describes peer support workers as people with lived experience of recovery who help others in similar situations. It says their work includes:
- Advocating for people in recovery
- Sharing resources and building skills
- Building community and relationships
- Running recovery groups
- Mentoring and setting goals
What working with a peer can look like
Peer support can be one-on-one or in a group, in person, by phone or by video. In a first conversation, a peer may share a little of their own story, ask what matters to you, and help you name one or two goals. You decide how much to share.
SAMHSA's fact sheet says peers help people find and follow their own recovery paths, without judgment, expectations, rules or requirements. They can link you to tools and resources, help you set goals and plan concrete steps, and push back on myths about what it means to live with a mental health or substance use condition. OMH adds that, in New York clinics, peer services can include skills training, running groups, modeling coping skills, connecting people with their community, and non-clinical support during a crisis.
OMH also lets licensed clinics offer peer support before a person formally starts treatment, to help them decide what care they want. If you are unsure about therapy or medicine, talking with a peer first can be a gentle way in.
| Type of help | Who provides it | Good for | Not meant for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peer specialist | A trained peer with lived experience, supervised by professional staff | Hope, practical skills, goals, connection to resources | Diagnosis, treatment plans or medicine advice |
| Peer warmline | Peers on a phone line | Talking things through and finding resources when you are not in crisis | Emergencies or crisis counseling |
| Support group | Members with similar experiences, sometimes led by a peer | Shared understanding and community | Individual treatment |
| Therapy | A licensed behavioral health professional | Treatment of a mental health condition, alone or in a group | Round-the-clock crisis response |
| 988 (NYC 988) | Crisis counselors and peer support specialists | Support in a crisis or distress, any hour | Ongoing treatment |
How peer support differs from therapy
SAMHSA calls peer support non-clinical, strengths-based support, and says a peer support worker's role complements, but does not duplicate or replace, the roles of therapists, case managers and others on a treatment team. New York's Office of Mental Health (OMH) puts it the same way: a peer's role should not look like a clinician's. A peer does not diagnose, set a treatment plan or advise on medicine.
When you look at a peer program, a few questions help. Is the peer certified or credentialed, and by whom? Who supervises them? What should you do if you are in crisis outside their hours? Is there a cost, and does your plan cover it? Your insurer can answer the last one.
Peers go by different names, including peer specialist, peer recovery coach, peer advocate and peer recovery support specialist. SAMHSA lists many places they work, such as peer-run organizations, recovery community centers, hospital emergency departments, homeless shelters, and behavioral health and primary care settings. SAMHSA says emerging research shows peer support can help people in recovery from behavioral health conditions.
New York's peer credentials
OMH guidance for licensed outpatient clinics names three kinds of credentialed peers. Each must hold a certification or credential, or a provisional one, from an OMH-approved program, and work under the supervision of professional staff:
- New York Certified Peer Specialist (NYCPS). Identifies as being in recovery from a mental health condition and is open about that experience.
- Credentialed Family Peer Advocate (FPA-C). Has lived experience as a parent or primary caregiver of a child with social, emotional, developmental or behavioral health needs. This is the peer role built for parents.
- Credentialed Youth Peer Advocate (YPA-C). Is 18 to 30 years old and has first-hand experience with emotional or behavioral challenges.
- Peers credentialed in substance use recovery through New York's addiction services agency (Certified Recovery Peer Advocates) can also work in these clinics if they get provisional OMH certification within 12 months of being hired.
Where to find peer support in New York
Peer support shows up in more places than many people expect:
- NYC 988. The NYC Health Department says people who want to speak with a certified peer specialist should ask for "peer support" when connected to a counselor. See what happens when you call 988.
- Warmlines. OMH describes peer support warm lines as numbers to call for support and to learn about mental health and recovery resources, in contrast to crisis hotlines. OMH keeps a list of New York warm lines (opens in a new tab) and a directory of peer-run and family-run organizations.
- Crisis respite centers. NYC 988 says these short stays offer peer support around the clock. The guide to crisis options in New York City explains how they compare with a hospital.
- Mobile Crisis Teams. NYC 988 says most teams pair a clinician with a peer support staff person.
- Clinics and programs. OMH lets licensed outpatient clinics offer peer support in person, in groups or by telehealth, and some intensive programs include it. Ask when you enroll.
- Support groups. SAMHSA describes support groups as a way to connect with people who have similar experiences. This site's resources pages list groups and organizations by topic, and how support groups help people with bipolar disorder shows what a group can be like.
When peer support is not the right step on its own
Peer support is meant to go alongside care, not to take its place. If your symptoms are getting worse, you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or you have questions about a diagnosis or medicine, talk with a licensed clinician. Do not stop or change a medicine because of advice from anyone other than your prescriber. If you need more than weekly visits, see levels of mental health care compared.
Mind Body Seven offers psychiatry and therapy for adults, teens and children in Brooklyn and by telehealth across New York State, and you can contact the practice if you want clinical care alongside peer support. The practice cannot respond to emergencies, so in a crisis call or text 988, or call 911. More lines are on the telephone hotlines page.
Frequently asked questions
Is a peer specialist the same as a therapist?
No. SAMHSA describes peer support as non-clinical, and OMH says a peer's role should not reflect that of a clinician. A peer shares lived experience and practical support, while a therapist is a licensed professional who assesses and treats mental health conditions. Many people use both, and peers often work as part of a treatment team.
How do I ask for a peer when I call 988 in New York City?
Call, text or chat 988, and once you are connected to a counselor, say that you would like "peer support." The NYC Health Department gave that instruction when it launched its 988 campaign in 2023, and its 2025 testimony to the City Council lists peer support among NYC 988's core services. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
What is a warmline, and how is it different from 988?
A warmline is a phone line, often run by peers, for support and information when you are not in crisis. OMH describes warm lines as different from crisis hotlines. Hours and services vary by line. 988 is the crisis line, open 24/7, for suicidal thoughts, a mental health or substance use crisis, or any emotional distress.
Is there peer support for parents of children with mental health needs?
Yes. New York credentials Family Peer Advocates, who have lived experience as a parent or primary caregiver of a child with social, emotional, developmental or behavioral health needs. OMH lets licensed clinics offer family peer support, and its directory of peer-run and family-run organizations can help you find one. Ask your child's clinician or clinic whether they have a family peer advocate.
Can peer support replace medication or therapy?
SAMHSA says peer support complements, but does not replace, the work of therapists and other members of a treatment team. Some people choose peer support alongside therapy or medicine, and it can help with staying connected to care. If you are thinking about stopping or changing a medicine, talk with your prescriber first.
Next: compare your options
911, NYC 988, Mobile Crisis Teams, psychiatric ERs, CPEPs and crisis residences: what each does and when it fits.
Sources
- SAMHSA: Peer Support Workers for Those in Recovery
- SAMHSA: Peer Support (BRSS TACS fact sheet)
- NYS Office of Mental Health: MHOTRS Guidance on Youth, Family, Adult and Older Adult Peer Support Services
- NYS Office of Mental Health: NYS Peer Support Warm Lines
- NYC Health Department: Health Department Launches 988 Campaign (10 October 2023)
- NYC Health Department: Testimony on NYC 988 before the City Council, 26 September 2025
- NYC 988: Crisis Respite
- SAMHSA: Treatment Types for Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol
Reviewed by Dr. Beata Lewis, MD, Founder and Clinical Director, board-certified in adult psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and integrative medicine on November 8, 2026. Facts checked against the sources above on November 8, 2026. This guide is general education, not medical advice, a diagnosis or a treatment plan, and reading it does not make you a patient of Mind Body Seven. For advice about your situation, talk with a licensed clinician.