Peer-based approaches benefit all people involved, including the people delivering the activities (peer supporters) and those accessing activities (young people).

Learn: Benefits of peer support programs

Benefits of peer support programs

Benefits of peer support programs include:

Short term impacts on individual

• increased social connectedness
• increased self esteem
• increased confidence
• improved social skills
• positive role model for peers
• improved problem-solving skills
• improved help-seeking behaviour
• improved coping skills
• optimism.

Impacts on others

• improved relationships
• positive influence on networks
• leadership within community
• leadership within program.

Long term outcomes

• mental wellbeing
• physical wellbeing
• education/employment
• help-seeking
• community engagement.^23,24

Peer-based approaches are valuable for young people because they can:

• be perceived as a credible source of help
• empower participants to help themselves
• provide a means of transferring knowledge
• be a decreased level of threat since they are strengths-based and non-judgmental
• provide learning opportunities through role-modelling
• be beneficial to trained peers
• be more acceptable than mainstream support services to marginalised groups
• help hard to reach target groups access help
• provide ongoing contact for isolated groups
• reframe negative perceptions
• provide ongoing personal development opportunities
• be cost-effective.²³