Rethinking Supporting Our Mental Health Workforce: The Power of Intentional Peer Relationships
The mental health workforce is under immense strain. Burnout, high turnover, and increasing complexity in client needs are stretching traditional care models to their limits. As someone working in the sector, I’ve seen firsthand how conventional approaches, often built around one-to-one clinical relationships and hierarchical supervision, can leave workers overwhelmed and isolated.
But there’s another way.
How These Observations Align with Intentional Peer Support Principles
Intentional Peer Support (IPS) principles are centered on mutuality, shared responsibility, and collective wisdom. IPS is not just an often underutilized method of care; it’s a relational framework that redefines how we support one another in mental health contexts.
Here’s how the key elements align:
Mutual Support Over Fixing IPS shifts the focus from “helping” to learning together. Relationships are built on mutuality, where both parties grow through shared experience. The goal is not to fix someone, but to walk alongside them, offering insight and encouragement.
Self-Activation IPS encourages individuals to move toward what they want, fostering personal agency and responsibility. Recovery is seen as a personal journey, supported by others but ultimately led by the individual.
Collective Wisdom IPS values co-reflection and the power of community knowledge. Solutions emerge through dialogue, shared experience, and the wisdom of those who’ve walked similar paths.
Reduced Isolation for Workers IPS practitioners are part of the same relational processes they facilitate. This creates a culture of shared growth, where staff are supported, affirmed, and connected, rather than isolated or burdened by hierarchical expectations.
These principles offer a powerful lens for reimagining how we support our mental health workforce. They invite us to build systems rooted in connection, equality, and hope; where everyone, including the worker, is part of the healing process.
Why This Matters for Workforce Wellbeing
In my experience, IPS can be a protective factor against burnout. When workers are part of a community that values their lived experience and supports their personal development, they’re more resilient. They also have the opportunity to distribute problem solving amongst their peers so that they can consider the problem from multiple perspectives to find a solution. They’re not carrying the emotional weight of others alone, they’re part of a network that distributes that load.
A Culture of Growth and Affirmation
One of the most transformative aspects of IPS is its emphasis on personal growth and relational development. Staff and participants alike are encouraged to reflect, challenge themselves, and support one another. This creates a culture where progress is celebrated, and setbacks are met with compassion and understanding.
In teams I’ve worked with, this has led to remarkable outcomes; zero staff turnover, deep trust among colleagues, and a shared language for solving both personal and professional challenges.
Looking Ahead
As the mental health sector grapples with increasing demand and complexity, we must explore models that support not just clients, but the workforce itself. Intentional Peer Support offers a compelling alternative, one rooted in humanity, shared experience, and collective resilience.
It’s time we reimagine what support looks like. Not just for those seeking help, but for those providing it.
This article was adapted from my previous presentation at the International Mental Health Conference.
