Peer Support Specialists provide essential help for mental health patients
JOPLIN, Mo. — Seeking help for mental health issues can be overwhelming for some patients. But you don’t have to go through it alone – with help from a peer support specialist.
“The peer program gives people the opportunity to have extra support on top of their medical providers, their therapist it just give some some extra support in the home,” said Janeice Hukill, Ozark Ctr. Psych. N.P.
Specifically from other clients who’ve successfully gone through treatment and are willing to network with others.
“Some people need more support than others. Some people are okay to get themselves to their appointments and can manage their schedule okay on their own. But other people may need rides to appointments or reminders to get to appointments or even help scheduling their appointments.”
It could be support dealing with depression, anxiety, ADHD or any mental health issue or drug problem.
“And I have the ability to share my personal experience strength and hope with them. I’m able to relate with them I’m able to build our relationship that they feel comfortable to say I’ve done xyz or I’m not doing xyz. And when I come in is I’m going to support you no matter what,” said Melissa Winslow, Peer Support Specialist.
Peer support specialists can also help by meeting with patients more frequently than professionals like a counselor would be available.
“You’ve got this overwhelming sense that just somebody’s just pressing down on you, and there’s no hope and you feel like me, I just want to give up on somebody who comes along and kind of sparks that light of hope in them, to let them know that man they’re not alone and that they can get through this,” said Wyett Guy, Peer Support Specialist.
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