Abstract
Peer led services provide an approach to support based on mutuality, respect, and shared experience. The aim of the Narrative is to provide an understanding of my experiences of receiving help from a peer led service. Journaling experiences captured in detail the reality of my experiences at the time and were used to inform this paper.
The Narrative describes entering a Peer Led Acute Alternative Service when I was amid a mental health crisis and feeling broken. Here relationships were based on connecting with others who have experienced similar struggles, being seen as an individual rather than a patient, treated with dignity and respect, being heard, having my feelings acknowledged rather than medicated, and feeling understood. This created a shift in me to a place of healing and finding meaning in my experiences of mental distress which led to me training in peer support.
Peer led services can be a transformative experience which redefines the relationship and shifts the person from being a passive recipient of help to an active participant in their recovery. Choice and increased options for peer services as an integral aspect of services available for individuals on their mental health journey is critical.