Peer Support Warm line/crisis center?

Just reading throh the links u provided and ive concluded that there are 2 types of peer support going on. Peer support from a survivor viewpoint, which is 'true' peer support, which advocates against forced treatment, and is pro human rights in mh.

peer support as a certified 'qualification' - deals with basically the same as a mental health case worker except probably not paid as much is only difference. I looked into an Australian peer support certificate and there was no where where we see the value of being an actual 'peer' in it, it was just a case worker job. deals with 'medication', talking with carers etc. Said nothing about survivors, human rights etc etc.

so basically they have taken over the peer support system, as with most things eg. punk rock, the 'establishment' takes over punk n comes up with pop punk and says to the world 'this is punk rock'' and ppl then believe that is real punk rock...couldn't think of a better metaphor!!!

Devilock wrote:peer support as a certified 'qualification' - deals with basically the same as a mental health case worker except probably not paid as much is only difference.

I suppose it would depend on where this qualification is coming from. My understanding is that certification would and does mean to advocate for the individual's choice 100%. In my experience, there is a very large difference between mental health worker and a peer support worker. At least, a large difference in what it is supposed to be. The peer movement is still in it's infancy. We're still pushing forward in this movement.

I just don't want them using peer support to do any psychiatric dirty work such as having "suicide prevention aids" running around with clip boards helping enforce medication compliance.

All institutions have that way of tapping into "inmate" labor like prisons do. There are always turn coats who will side with an abusive institution for power over others, extra privileges or just to get paid . Those "therapeutic communities" are infamous for that kind of thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therapeutic_community

Wikipedia does not even mention consumer/survivors in "Peer_support_specialist" , should we add it in ??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer_support_specialist

I'm sure there are efforts to remove the survivor influence on the peer movement .

Just looked at 5-6 websites about peer support in Australia, and the govt seems to want to systematically address 'peer support' and have a national course that 'educates' ppl who want to work in peer support.

Most of the websites just looked pretty generic, didn't see any activism, or activism viewpoints at all, a few had recovery based stuff whwich was ok I though. ONE had *good language* ie. it said things about not infantilizing ppl with diagnosis, labeling ppl n its effects etc, I liked the way they talked.

https://www.google.com.au/#q=philosophy ... +australia

Im sure in Australia, peer support is about 'consumers' and ppl who have had mh issues who now want to help, not about human rights, recovery and issues like forced drugging n help for ptsd from psychiatry. THis is more an American thing, I wish it was so here too. There is ONE in Melbourne who borders on some ok language, but I emailed them asking about allot of stuff , saying id been damaged by meds etc, I thought the lady was realy cool, but she never wrote back.

Ive read about some great places in us re. peer support places, some ppl on madinamerica.com work in such places, it just comes down to researching and narrowing down to find these places. Unfortunately everyone who seeks out peer support does not know this so they may get some kind of generic type place, which is really just a mh service but has a *softer* approach.

Devilock wrote:Unfortunately everyone who seeks out peer support does not know this so they may get some kind of generic type place, which is really just a mh service but has a *softer* approach.

agreed. There is a big difference between what peer support is supposed to be vs what some places may think it's supposed to be. (if that makes sense)