Season 2
Peer Services
This episode explores peer-provided services for people with mental health conditions. Peer Support Services, or services offered by people who have experienced similar life challenges and who have completed specialized training, are integral to mental health programs. Research shows that peer services provide hope and inspiration and can reduce hospitalization rates. Dr. Amy Spagnolo, the Project Director for the New York State Office of Mental Health funded Academy of Peer Services, an online training, testing, and tracking platform for the certification of peer support specialists, and three Peer Supporters, Rita Cronise, Matthew McDonald and Maryam Husamudeen, share their thoughts on who is a peer, what peer services look like, why peer services are essential and what the future of peer services may include.
Hosts & Guests
Dr. Michelle Zechner
Amy Spagnolo, Ph.D
Matthew McDonald
Maryam Husamudeen NYCPS, BA, eCPR, FDC, ASIS
Rita Cronise, MS, ALWF
Resources
Peer Support Services Technical Assistance Center: Rutgers University APS and NYU McSilver Institute
https://peertac.org/
Academy of Peer Services
https://www.academyofpeerservices.org/
APS Virtual Learning Community
https://aps-community.org/
SAMHSA’s National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification
https://www.samhsa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/offices-centers/or/model-standards
McSilver Institute at NYU for Poverty, Policy and Research at NYU
https://mcsilver.nyu.edu
Takeaways From This Episode
Peer services are powerful and motivational connections between a person with a mental health condition and a peer with similar experience that inspire hope and possibility. They are evidence-based and have demonstrated many positive outcomes for people with mental health conditions including increased hope, well-being, social support, decreased symptoms and decreased risk of hospitalization. System outcomes include reduced costs and increased engagement in services.
Some of the skills and strategies that are helpful in peer support include: compassion, listening skills, no fixing, acknowledge coping skills, use of respect and compassion.
Peer services can be offered in a variety of places and ways such as in a one to one conversation, bridger services to link with other needed services, telehealth, groups, advocacy, and using therapeutic art practices.
The future of peer services includes a focus on supervision of peer services and specialized training with a focus on peer support in specific situations such as justice involvement, crisis services, health and wellness and aging.
Special Guest
Amy Spagnolo, Ph.D
Project Director, New York State Office of Mental Health funded Academy of Peer Services
Dr. Spagnolo, is a faculty member in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers University. Amy is the Project Director for the New York State Office of Mental Health funded Academy of Peer Services, the only online training, testing and tracking platform for the certification of peer support specialists in the world.
There are three special guests on this episode that are Peer Specialists on Dr. Spagnolo’s team. They are:
Matthew McDonald
Maryam Husamudeen NYCPS, BA, eCPR, FDC, ASIS
Rita Cronise, MS
Stay Connected
The Northeast & Caribbean MHTTC served New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands and was based at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, within the School of Health Professions, Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions.
During this time period, the organization provided essential training, technical assistance, and resource dissemination to support and enhance the mental health workforce.
With funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the MHTTC collaborated with organizations and practitioners providing mental health services to enhance their capacity for delivering effective, evidence-based interventions.
This site is now part of the Northeast and Caribbean MHTTC ARCHIVE.
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation & Counseling Professions
675 Hoes Lane West
8th Floor
Piscataway, NJ 08854
Dr. Ann Murphy
murphyaa@shp.rutgers.edu