Mental Health Peer Support
Everyone’s mental health journey is unique – but you don’t have to go through it alone.
Our Mental Health Peer Support service connects you with people who have their own lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery. Together, you can share experiences, build confidence, and find what helps you move forward.
This service is funded by South West London and St George’s (SWLStG) Mental Health Trust and delivered in partnership with Richmond Borough Mind, Age UK, Crossroads, and RAID.
What is Mental Health Peer Support?
Peer Support is all about connection and understanding. Our Mental Health Peer Support Workers use their own experiences to:
- Offer emotional support and understanding
- Share tools, skills, and ideas for wellbeing
- Help you connect with your community and local activities
- Support you to explore your own goals for wellbeing and recovery
Sessions can take place one-to-one or in a group, either in the community or at home. Most people are offered 6–8 sessions, but this can vary depending on your needs.
Who is Mental Health Peer Support for?
Across the partnership there are Peer Support Workers with relevant lived experience of mental health to specialise in supporting people including:
- Young adults (18–25)
- Adults (25–50)
- Older adults (50–75)
- People who are neurodivergent or Disabled
- Carers of people with mental health challenges
What to Expect
When you’re matched with a Peer Support Worker, you meet and are able to:
- Talk openly and share experiences in a safe, supportive space
- Get ideas and encouragement to take part in community activities
- Plan for what recovery means to you
We also run peer support sessions including art groups and our Neuro-diverse Support Group. These are co-designed, meaning the topics and activities are chosen by the group members themselves – so everything we do is shaped by your voice and experience.
How to Access the Service
If you’re aged 18 or over and currently supported by one of the Trust’s community mental health services, you can access Peer Support.
Just speak with your mental health professional — they can make a referral for you.
You can also contact the Richmond Peer Support Coordinator on
Client Feedback
Having peer support made me realise that I wasn’t the only one who experiences difficult mental health problems and that I can recover.
After meeting my peer support worker I finally felt that someone really understood what I was going through.
The peer support worker helped me find things in the community. They came along to a group with me for the first time to help me meet the new people there.