Peer Support Workers are mental health professionals who uses their own personal experiences of mental ill health and recovery to support others in an earlier phase of their recovery.
You can access them through a Community Mental Health Team.
Related Information
Peer Support Distance Working (PDF, 277 KB, 20 pages)
Peer Support Workers in Mental Health Services (PDF, 568 KB, 60 pages)
Peer Support Education Information
Dublin City University Certificate in Peer Support Working in Mental Health
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Certificate in Peer Support Practice
Family peer support work
Family Peer Support Workers have lived experience of supporting a loved one with mental health difficulties.
Family Peer Support Workers work in HSE settings. They do not provide a clinical or a therapeutic service.
When family members are supported to focus on their own self-care, their relative experiencing mental health difficulties also benefits.
The Family Peer Support Worker can offer information, emotional support, and can direct you to other resources and services that might help you and your family cope positively with the challenges you face.
Accessing family peer support
The Family Peer Support Service is available to anyone with a family member who is currently attending Adult Mental Health Services.
The family member can be an adult:
- son or daughter
- sibling
- partner/spouse
- parent
- close friend
- extended family member
Referrals can be made through the mental health team, self-referral or through community or voluntary organisations.
The service is free of charge.
Family Peer Support is available in the following Mental Health Services:
- CHO 2 - Mayo, Roscommon, East Galway, Galway City, Galway County
- CHO 5 - Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford
- CHO 7 - Dublin South Central, Kildare, West Wicklow
