Benefits of Making connection
It can be a rewarding experience to be a youth peer supporter. But there are times when it can be overwhelming. It’s important to keep in mind that helpers need help, too. To make sure you have the support you need as a youth peer supporter, consider making connections with supportive people and resources in your community that you can rely on. These connections can play an important role in supporting you while you support your peers. We all need people in our corner – people who can look out for us and support us when we need it. This is even more important when you’re supporting your peers. An adult ally is a trusted adult that coaches, supports, advocates for and works together with youth. An adult ally might be a teacher or academic advisor, a parent, a mental health professional (like a counselor or social worker) or another leader in the community.
An adult ally can help you in your role as a youth peer supporter in a variety of ways. In difficult times, they can help guide you when you need to make tough decisions. They can help you develop your critical thinking skills by asking questions and challenging your perspective from time to time. They can also help by providing you with additional tools and resources, such as information about local services. Most importantly, an adult ally can be a non-judgmental, approachable person who can support you throughout your personal peer support journey.
You might also find it helpful to turn to a trusted adult ally to debrief after providing peer support. A debrief is a planned conversation with someone you trust to help you share the load that sometimes comes with providing support to someone. A debrief is a great opportunity to pause and reflect and take the pulse of how things are going. These conversations can help remind you of your role and keep you on track. The person you’re debriefing with can provide constructive feedback that can help you improve yourself and the peer support you provide. During a debrief, it can also be helpful to check in about your own mental health, stresses and workload to prevent from getting overwhelmed or burning out. If you’re providing peer support within an organization, debriefing may even be a formal part of your work.
It can also be helpful to form connections with resources available in your community – both for you and your peer. In your role as a youth peer supporter, it’s important for you to become familiar with other local service provider sand the services and programs they offer. That way, you’ll have a toolbox of different tools you can refer to when needed. For example, depending on the situation and the needs of your peer, you’ll be able to refer your peer to different supports such as an adult ally or a mentor, community events and activities, harm reduction programs and counseling services, just to name a few. These resources are a great place to start! It also helps to become familiar with local resources that can help you, as a youth peer supporter, to invest in yourself. See if there are other training and development opportunities available in your community.
There’s a lot to learn about peer support and these posts are just the beginning. In fact, when it comes to youth peer support, learning is a lifelong journey! Commit to building and expanding your knowledge and experience. As a youth peer supporter, you always have room to grow. Finally, as a youth peer supporter, it can also be helpful to connect with others who are doing the same (or similar) work as you. One way to do this is through a community of practice. A community of practice is a group of people who share a passion for something that they know how to do, and who interact regularly to learn how to do it better.
Creating or participating in a youth peer support community of practice can help you connect with people who have been there, learn from other people’s successes and challenges, and share your own wisdom and experiences. It can also keep you on track so you can be sure you’re providing the best support possible and staying true to the key ingredients of youth peer support. Remember, as a youth peer supporter it’s normal to need support for yourself, too. There’s always someone out there who can listen and be there for you – and there are often lots of community resources you can tap into to help you on your journey. Thanks for reading! Up next, ‘Ending a peer support relationship’.
Benefits of sharing your success story
Our biggest challenges in life often become easier to handle when we can share them with someone. Peer support is all about connecting with another person, showing empathy and sharing lived experiences. As a peer supporter, it’s about reflecting on your own experiences to support the well-being of another person. A key ingredient of peer support is a sense of shared identity or experience between you and your peer – or a sense that you’ve been through some similar things. These connections can help build trust, understanding and a sense of teamwork between you and your peer.
It can be as simple and powerful as saying “I’ve been there too. You’re not alone.” Sharing your story is a great way to create those connections and strengthen the bond between you and your peer. Reflecting on what you’ve been through also has some other great benefits, both for you and your peer. For your peer, listening to your story can be an empowering experience that can help break down the isolation and stigma they maybe experiencing. It can also be a therapeutic process for you.
As a peer supporter, you might find that it gives you a sense of power and control over your own journey Finally, being open about your lived experience scan also help you bond with your peer, develop trust and create a healthy peer support relationship. Your story is your own, so only you can decide how to share it. But when it comes to sharing your story as part of a peer support relationship, it's important to share your story in a hopeful and helpful way – after all, it’s all about supporting your peer. Here are a few tips from the research and some youth peer supporters that we spoke to: First, make sure your peer wants to hear your story. They may not want (or feel ready) to, and that’s okay. They might be more open to hearing it down the road, so consider bringing it up again at a later point.
If they are open to hearing your story, make sure it’s the right time for both of you. We’ll go into more detail on how you can create a safe space in another post, but it’s important for both of you to set appropriate boundaries so you can take care of yourself. Next, if your story includes sensitive topics like suicide, self-harm, sexual assault, domestic violence or accidents, give your peer a heads up. Ask your peer if they’re okay to continue talking about these subjects. If they aren’t, it’s not the time to share. If they are, be prepared to support thee notional and physical reactions your story may stir up. Keep your peer in mind as you share your story.
Which parts of your story can they learn from? Which parts are relevant? For example, depending on what your peer is going through, you might focus on the mental health challenges you’ve experienced, including the signs, symptoms and how they affected you. You might also discuss what else was going on in your life at the time. Finally, try to end on a hopeful note. Consider sharing what made you seek help ,the supports you received and where you’re currently at with your mental health journey.
Remember, when people who are going through a hard time hear from those with similar experiences, it humanizes their own challenge sand helps them feel less alone. Most importantly, it can provide hope that things can get better. Thanks for reading! Up next, Working across differences.
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