Behavioral health disorders have a wide range of treatments, however, recently there has been growing use of peer providers with lived experiences of mental health and substance use for the prevention and treatment of these disorders. Peers are effective providers of behavioral health treatment who encourage recovery through resilience building, empowerment, and self-advocacy. There remains a need for more research on the efficacy of peers in substance use disorder treatment and the impact of formalized certification and training opportunities.

This article aims to better define the roles of peer providers and their unique contributions to behavioral health care.