Mental Health
January 24, 2022
Community is a cornerstone of recovery. And one effective way of building that community is through peer mentoring.
Peer mentoring is when individuals of similar age, background, or experience level support and guide each other. It can include sharing experiences, knowledge, and advice. You become each other’s mental, emotional, and social support, which helps you with your personal, educational, and professional development.
Because of the global mental health crisis, building community through tools like peer mentoring is crucial to staying mentally and emotionally healthy. It can be what keeps you from regressing into old habits or prevents you from spiraling toward unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Discover peer mentorship and how to use it as a support through mental health challenges.
In 2022, 6% of U.S. adults had a severe mental illness. The highest percentage of severe mental illness occurred in those between 18 and 25 years old. The percentage then decreased with age.
In addition, 32.9% of adults have either a mental illness or substance use disorder, and nearly half of young adults between 18 and 25 have either a mental illness or substance use disorder, with many having both.
Research is not able to identify which occurred first, the mental health disorder or substance use disorder, but the co-existence of both issues points to an area where young adults need extra support.
Peer mentoring can provide that support to help young adults avoid worsening their current condition or becoming diagnosed with a co-existing condition.
Peer mentoring offers emotional and social support by creating a safe community. One study looked at those who lived alone and discovered that 6.3% of men who lived alone also experienced depression, compared to 3.2% who did not live alone and experienced depression.
Having support can reduce your chances of developing a mental health disorder. It can also combat your current mental health disorders by counteracting feelings of isolation and loneliness that can exasperate mental health disorders.
•Empathy and Understanding: Peers in mentoring relationships often share similar experiences and challenges. This shared understanding allows for deep empathy and validation.
•Non-Judgmental Environment: In peer mentoring relationships, both parties feel safe to express their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment or stigma.
•Emotional Validation: Peers can offer emotional validation, acknowledging the validity of each other’s feelings and experiences. This validation helps each person feel understood and accepted, reducing feelings of self-doubt and isolation.
•Social Connection and Camaraderie: Peer mentoring encourages camaraderie and belonging. Engaging in meaningful interactions and building connections with similar experiences can combat loneliness and social isolation.
•Shared Learning and Coping Strategies: Peers in mentoring relationships can share coping strategies, resilience techniques, and practical advice based on their experiences. Learning from others who successfully navigated similar challenges offers hope and inspiration.
What benefits might both parties see when entering into a peer mentoring relationship?
Here are the top benefits:
•Increased Self-Esteem: Mentoring others can boost the mentor’s self-esteem and self-confidence. Mentors gain a sense of accomplishment and validation as they share their knowledge and expertise. Mentees also grow confident as the mentor pours into them and validates their feelings.
•Enhanced Empathy: Mentoring requires mentors to understand and empathize with the mentee’s perspectives, experiences, and challenges. Through this process, mentors develop a more profound sense of empathy and compassion toward others. Mentees also build empathy as the mentor shares their similar experiences.
•Improved Social Skills: Mentors and mentees hone their communication and interpersonal skills through regular interactions. Each person learns to articulate their thoughts and ideas effectively, provide constructive feedback, and resolve conflicts.
•Learning and Growth: Mentoring is a two-way learning process. Mentees learn from mentors who offer first-hand experiences and coping tools. Mentors can gain new insights, perspectives, and knowledge from their mentees' unique experiences. This continuous learning and growth enrich each person’s personal and professional development.
•Reduced Mental Health Disorders: Through peer mentorship, each person receives the peer support they need for their mental health. This can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
The most crucial impact of peer mentoring is the support it provides for those struggling with mental health disorders.
Researchers estimate half of U.S. adults will have a mental health disorder at some point in their lives. Loneliness and social isolation are known mental health risks. Further research found that those with a sense of community had fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.
Becoming a mentor does not require any advanced degree or special certification. However, training and education can help peer mentors be more effective. Training in mental health awareness, active listening skills, crisis intervention, and mentoring can vastly improve a mentor-mentee relationship and outcomes.
While mentors don’t need a degree, they should possess several personal qualities and knowledge to support their mentees with mental health challenges:
•Empathy and Compassion: Peer mentors must possess empathy and compassion to understand and relate to the mentee’s feelings and experiences. They should demonstrate genuine concern and care for the mentee’s well-being without judgment or criticism.
•Active Listening Skills: Peer mentors should be skilled listeners who listen attentively to the mentee’s concerns, thoughts, and feelings. Active listening involves giving full attention, paraphrasing to confirm understanding, and asking clarifying questions to ensure comprehension.
•Non-Judgmental Attitude: Peer mentors must have a non-judgmental stance. They should not make assumptions or pass judgment about the mentee’s experience, behaviors, or emotions. Instead, they should create a safe and accepting environment that encourages the mentee to open up and seek support.
•Practical Communication Skills: Peer mentors should communicate clearly and effectively to convey information, support, and provide feedback.
•Knowledge of Mental Health Resources: Peer mentors are the mentee’s primary point of contact for support and tools. To be effective, mentors should have a basic understanding of mental health issues, including common symptoms, coping strategies, and available resources or services. They should be able to provide accurate information and guidance to help the mentee access appropriate support and resources.
An effective mentor establishes boundaries, confidentiality, and a safe space for open communication. The above qualities are required to invest in those three pillars of peer mentorship.
Boundaries define the roles and expectations of the mentor and mentee. This ensures a respectful and professional relationship. It also helps prevent burnout while maintaining the mentor’s well-being.
Having confidentiality and a safe space builds trust with the mentee. It allows them to disclose sensitive information during sessions without fear of judgment or repercussions.
Peer mentoring comes with several challenges. Mentees may depend on their mentors for support, guidance, and validation. This can lead to dependency on the mentor for decision-making and problem-solving.
For mentors, they may overidentify with the mentee’s experiences, emotions, or challenges. This overidentification makes it more challenging to remain objective.
For both the mentor and mentee, boundary issues can arise. These violations occur when one or the other crosses professional or personal lines.
To avoid these challenges, the mentor and mentee must establish clear roles and expectations within the relationship. They also need to encourage independence outside the relationship and the development of other supportive communities. Healthy boundaries and outside support can hold both parties accountable and keep them within their expectations and roles.
Professional training programs and supervision help mentors understand potential problems and how to establish healthy boundaries and set clear expectations. This ensures the relationship remains supportive.
Peer mentoring programs can be part of existing mental health support systems. Follow these steps to add peer mentoring to your programs:
1. Assess current mental health needs through surveys, focus groups, or consultations.
2. Ensure the peer mentoring program is culturally sensitive, accessible, and inclusive so it can address a wide range of health concerns for a diverse population.
3. Provide comprehensive training and education for peer mentors.
4. Collaborate with mental health professionals to access educational materials, assessment tools, screening instruments, and referral directories.
5. Establish a referral system to guide mentors in referring mentees to appropriate mental health resources.
6. To ensure they feel equipped and supported, provide ongoing supervision and support for peer mentors.
7. Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of the peer mentors, mentees, and other stakeholders.
Peer mentoring has a proven ability to help people, not just with their mental health, but with success in every area of their life.
One study looked specifically at peer mentoring for underrepresented employees. Those who had a mentor saw a performance improvement. They were able to improve their communication, align their expectations, understand more, and become more independent.
Most study participants talked about how the mentorship helped them learn, be honest, and feel encouraged.
People are not meant to walk life alone. That’s why we have relationships.
A parent, sibling, neighbor, or friend may be your support. However, sometimes, you need another level of support. You need someone who understands what you’re going through because they walked in your shoes.
A peer mentor is more than a friend. They’re a safe place to acknowledge your emotions and uncover your strengths, allowing you to control your mental health struggles.
Through peer mentorship, you can grow in your education, career, and personal life.
Contact us to learn more about our peer mentoring programs and if it’s right for you.