The peer workforce represents a diverse and rapidly expanding set of roles within mental health systems, increasingly moving from the margins into the mainstream. Across countries, a range of organisations are now playing central roles in coordinating, training, and supporting peer workers; however, the workforce remains fragmented, with inconsistent role definitions, standards, and pathways limiting its ability to function as a truly global system.
To reach its full potential, the peer workforce requires greater centralisation and standardisation—particularly in how roles are defined, measured, and connected across regions. A global ledger could provide this foundation, capturing real-time data on workforce activity, engagement, and outcomes, and translating this into a centralised dashboard that offers a live, system-wide view of the peer workforce.
Such an infrastructure would transform the peer workforce from a distributed set of roles into a coordinated global network, enabling peer workers, organisations, and systems to understand what is happening in real time, align efforts, and scale lived experience as a core component of mental health care worldwide.
These individuals provide peer support, drawing on their own experiences to assist others on their mental health journeys.
They actively engage with mental health organisations, offering their perspectives and insights to inform the development of policies, practices, and services.
The lived experience movement has given rise to an influential movement known as Peer Work. In this movement, mental health workers with their own lived experience actively join the workforce, advocating for systematic changes in the mental health profession. Peer workers stand at the forefront of the lived experience movement, serving as pivotal figures in advocacy and leadership within the mental health landscape.
This book examines various aspects of the peer workforce, illuminating their multifaceted roles and contributions to the field. The components of the peer workforce that will be explored include:
Peer Work
By leveraging their personal experiences, peer educators educate and inform others about mental health issues, reducing stigma and promoting understanding within communities.
These individuals provide guidance and assistance as they navigate the complexities of the mental health system, helping them access the resources and support they need.
Offer ongoing support and encouragement, empowering individuals to achieve recovery goals and maintain mental well-being.
Peer researchers actively participate in mental health research, bringing their unique perspectives to the scientific community and ensuring that research is grounded in the lived experiences of those it seeks to benefit.
The Peer Workforce Around the World
The peer workforce has been gradually growing and gaining recognition worldwide as an essential component of mental health and social support systems. However, it is necessary to note that the status and representation of the peer workforce can vary significantly from one country to another, as well as within regions of the same country.
The United States has been at the forefront of the peer support movement, boasting a well-established and diverse peer workforce. Many states have implemented certified peer specialist programs that offer training and certification for individuals interested in becoming peer support specialists. The peer workforce is integrated into mental health agencies, community-based organisations, and healthcare settings, providing a range of peer support services.
Australia has also made significant strides in developing and supporting the peer workforce. There are peer workforce development programs, and peer support is increasingly recognised as a valuable component of mental health care. The Australian government and various mental health organisations have promoted peer support initiatives to improve mental health services and reduce stigma.
New Zealand has seen growing interest in the peer workforce and support services. Initiatives to integrate peer support within mental health and addiction services exist. However, the level of implementation and recognition varies across country regions.
Canada has been actively promoting the peer workforce and peer support services. Various provinces have established certified peer support specialist programs and have tried to integrate peer support within mental health and substance use treatment settings.
The status of the peer workforce varies across different European countries. Some countries have well-established peer support programs, while others are still in the initial stages of developing the peer workforce. Several European countries have recognised the value of peer support in mental health care and have been working on expanding its integration.
The representation of the peer workforce in Asia is diverse, with some countries having established strong peer support programs while others are still developing such initiatives. Some Asian countries have cultural factors that can influence the acceptance and adoption of peer support services. The African peer workforce is emerging, and peer support services are being developed in various regions. However, the availability and recognition of peer support programs may vary significantly across countries.
While the peer workforce has gained momentum worldwide, challenges remain, including stigma, funding, and the need for consistent training and certification standards. Advocacy efforts and research continue to support the expansion and recognition of the peer workforce as an integral part of mental health and social support systems globally. Since my last update, there may have been developments and changes in the status of the peer workforce in these regions, so I recommend checking more recent sources for the most up-to-date information.
International Peerwork Organisations
Intentional Peer Support
Widely used global framework and training model across multiple countries.
United States Peer Workforce Organisations
Indiana Association of Peer Recovery Support Services
IAPRSS is dedicated to advancing the peer recovery support profession through support, advocacy and education. By providing support to the peer community through connections between peer recovery supports, up-to-date resources, best practices, professional development, and more, we strive to grow the peer recovery support profession.
Centre for Innovation in Peer Support
The Centre for Innovation in Peer Support is a United Kingdom–based, peer-led organisation that works to develop and strengthen peer support across mental health systems through training, research, and service transformation. It focuses on building the peer workforce, supporting organisations to embed lived experience roles, and ensuring peer support remains values-driven, relational, and led by people with lived experience.
ImROC
ImROC plays a central role in the peer work movement by acting as a system-level change agent that embeds peer support within mainstream mental health services, particularly across the NHS. Rather than operating as a direct peer service provider, ImROC works with organisations to design, implement, and sustain peer roles, developing workforce frameworks, training pathways, and organisational culture change so that lived experience becomes a core part of service delivery—effectively bridging grassroots peer movements with formal health systems.
National Survivor User Network
The National Survivor User Network (NSUN) is a United Kingdom–based, user-led organisation that brings together individuals and groups with lived experience of mental health challenges to influence policy, practice, and service design. In the peer workforce, NSUN plays a representational and advocacy role, ensuring that peer work remains grounded in lived experience values rather than being overly professionalised or diluted within systems. It supports the collective voice of peer workers, promotes ethical and meaningful involvement, and works to shape how peer roles are developed, recognised, and sustained across the mental health sector.
The Centre of Excellence in Peer Support is an Australia-based, peer-led initiative within Mind Australia that works to advance and strengthen peer support across the mental health sector through training, research, and system development. It focuses on building the peer workforce by developing best practice frameworks, supporting organisations to embed lived experience roles, and ensuring peer support remains values-driven, recovery-oriented, and led by people with lived experience.
Centre of Excellence in Peer Support
National Mental Health Commission
Drives national policy including lived experience workforce recognition.
HelpingMinds
Australian NGO Peer Workforce
Te Pou
Te Pou o te Whakaaro Nui is a national centre of evidence-based workforce development for the mental health, addiction and disability sectors in New Zealand. Te Pou (Aotearoa/New Zealand) is New Zealand's national centre for mental health research, Information, and workforce development, encompassing information on the development of the service user workforce, the New Zealand Peer Support Network, and the Certificate in Peer Support (Mental Health).
This organisation promotes peer support and advocates for individuals with lived experience in Japan.
Japan Peer Support Association
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