Does Peer Support Pay?

Recent research shows the value of peers for individuals with mental illnesses and addictive disorders—that peer support “pays.” Participation in peer support groups for addiction recovery promoted higher satisfaction in treatment and lower relapse rates (see Peer Support Groups In Addiction Treatment Boost Odds Of Long-Term Recovery). And peer support has been found to increase social support and social functioning, decrease psychotic symptoms, and reduce hospitalization rates (see Value of Peers, 2017).

The specialty provider community is responding accordingly. Last June when we conducted our Innovation Survey, we found that 51% of health and human services specialty provider . . .