AHA brief highlights role of peer support specialists

The American Hospital Association released an issue brief on the value that peer support specialists in behavioral health bring to hospitals and health systems. Peer support specialists are people living in recovery from psychiatric and/or substance use disorders who provide non-clinical support to others seeking individualized recovery guidance. They reduce emergency and acute care visits, improve patients’ quality of life and decrease clinician burnout. The issue brief provides resources on the role and responsibilities of peer support specialists; describes the certification and training programs for peer support specialists; offers prevention initiatives to support the peer support specialists; and suggests considerations for hiring a peer support specialist.