Emotional wellbeing for peer support

Dr Catherine O’Neill, Principal Lecturer in the School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law, specialises in community psychology and community-based interventions. Her recent project, funded by Public Health South Tees, focused on supporting the emotional wellbeing of peer supporters and led to the creation of the Peer Support: Emotional Wellbeing Toolkit.

Peer support brings together people with shared experiences of challenging circumstances to offer mutual support in safe, informal spaces. Across Middlesbrough, organisations provide peer support for ethnic minority communities, LGBTQ+ residents, individuals with substance dependency, and those affected by domestic violence. While peer supporters inspire hope and connection, their role can be emotionally demanding. This project explored how best to meet their wellbeing needs and manage the challenges they face.

The toolkit was co-created through participatory research and informed by a photo elicitation study – a visual method using photography to spark discussion and uncover deeper meanings, emotions, and ideas. Feedback from partner organisations has been overwhelmingly positive, with the resource described as helpful, relevant, and easy to identify with.

The project also strengthened relationships between Teesside University and peer support organisations, leading to a Lived Experience conference hosted by the University and attended by over 100 people. The event celebrated the vital contribution of lived experience organisations to community and health services. Students working with Dr O’Neill conducted a service evaluation for a local organisation, evidencing the impact of volunteer roles and training on programme participants.

Alongside the toolkit, the project has delivered an upcoming accredited continuing professional development (CPD) opportunity for peer supporters, a comprehensive report, and two published research papers.