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February 14, 2023
Contact: Elizabeth Goodsitt/Jennifer Miller 608-266-1683
Wisconsin Office of Children's Mental Health Emphasizes the Importance of Peer Support on Youth Mental Health
Peer support is in the news: from the halls of Congress where legislators are working to ensure peer support is part of behavioral health services; to Governor Evers? recent State of the State address calling for more peer-run services; to municipalities and school districts addressing local mental health needs with the help of peer support. Adding to this collective call, the Office of Children?s Mental Health (OCMH) issued a new fact sheet on Peer Support, outlining the important role that peer support plays for child and family well-being.
Peer supporters ? those with personal experience parenting a child with mental health or behavioral issues, or those with their own mental health challenges ? use that expertise to support others. It is a powerful role that promotes wellness, recovery, and resiliency in ways that a clinician cannot always provide.
?Many experts believe we are in the midst of a youth mental health crisis. In a period when most psychologists have used peer consultations to manage burnout ? and the nation?s leading mental health organizations encourage the use of peer support ? we need to elevate the role of peer support,? said Linda Hall, director of the Office of Children?s Mental Health.
According to Director Hall, ?Peers provide a sense of belonging ? a key element of positive mental health ? a supportive relationship, and in-depth knowledge of a shared lived experience. Leveraging peer expertise is resiliency in action. Witnessing resilient peers can provide hope to youth who are struggling. What?s more, peer support offers a critical social connection.?
There are a number of steps Wisconsinites can take to elevate the role of peer support services. The fact sheet offers several recommendations, including seeking out peer support for yourself or your child; becoming a peer support specialist; hiring from and expanding the peer workforce; and Medicaid reimbursement for peer support services.
See the complete fact sheet.?
See previous fact sheets.
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