[On-screen text] Emily, Peer Worker

Emily: I guess if I knew there was someone out there who had their own journey of mental health, who didn't know, like me or anyone else in my personal, her life, who could really open up about what helped them, I probably like would've opened up a lot earlier.

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[On-screen title] What is Peer Work?

[On-screen text] Peer work is a form of mental health support.

[On-screen text] Saahil; Peer Worker

Saahil: A peer worker is someone that's had both life and mental health challenges

Emily: Who has been trained to support you in a way that is safe and purposeful.

[On-screen text] Jessica, Peer Worker

Jessica: Peer workers experience might include everyday types of issues, such as study stress, work stress, relationship issues.

Emily: To the heavier things,such as like identity, trauma, loss and mental health diagnosis.

[On-screen text] What are the benefits of talking to a peer worker?

Saahil: Talking to a peer worker is really guided by you. And what you want to talk about. We can act as a soundboard. We can explore and brainstorm some ideas that you may have.

Jessica: Talking to a peer worker can help them feel less alone. It can also help them feel a bit of hope that someone else has gotten through a similar type of experience and has learned strategies to help them with that experience.

Jessica: They might also be able to link it with that person and with other kinds of supports. And sometimes it can also be beneficial to talk to someone who's not a friend, who's not a family member, someone external who can provide a listening ear.

[On-screen text] Can peer workers help in an emergency?

[On-screen text] Marty, ReachOut Australia

Marty: So peer workers can generally help with anything, but they're not a crisis or emergency service.

Jessica: A person should call triple zero in that case or a crisis helpline such as Lifeline, or Kids' Helpline, or the Suicide Call Back Service. 

[On-screen text] Is talking with a peer worker confidential?

Marty: Talking to a peer worker is totally confidential. There are some circumstances where we might need to go outside of that confidentiality, where you or someone you know might be at risk of harm.

Marty: A peer worker may have to disclose private information to family members or emergency services. If a peer worker has to go outside of those guidelines for confidentiality, it's because they care and respect you and want to make sure you are safe and well.

[On-screen text] Where can I find a peer worker?

Marty: You can connect with peer workers in a range of different settings. Peer workers are often employed in clinical settings like in hospitals and community health centers. Our peer workers work in a range of online settings as well, like community forums or through chat services. And peer workers also work in telehealth settings. So you can phone for a chat.

[On-screen text] What's unique about peer worker?

Marty: A key difference between peer work and clinicians like psychologists,
is that peer workers can use their lived and living experience of mental health challenges to connect with you. A peer worker can point you in the right direction, if you're interested in seeing a clinician, a GP, psychiatrist or other health services or supports.

[On-screen text] Why do you like being a peer worker?

Emily: I guess what I really love about being a peer worker is that I can take a real negative part of my life and actually turn it into a positive, where I can actually help other people make their journeys like a little bit easier.

Jessica: It's a really great moment when the person feels connected to the peer worker and when they feel like they have learned something from the conversation
and say, thank you, you have helped me in that conversation or maybe the person has not been able to open up to other people, but feels connected to someone else and feels a bit more hopeful or less alone.

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