Peer support groups are some of the greatest resources available to us, and yet, so many people don’t know they exist or how to find them/utilize them. Peer support can sometimes mean the difference between a poor decision and a good one, and can help influence you in a good way to change for the better. We need our peers. Humans are social animals, and we thrive when we have good people around us.
The great thing about peer support is that it can be anyone. Family doesn’t have to be blood, as many believe. Some of us need to choose our own families to avoid toxicity from blood relatives, and there’s nothing wrong with that!
Why do we need peer support groups more than ever? Let’s count the ways…
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Mental Illness and Suicide Are Up
It’s estimated that about 1 in 5 adults in the US has experienced a mental health condition. About 1 in 25 are actually living with a serious mental illness, and nearly 18% of adults have an anxiety disorder. These statistics are meant to scare or alarm you, they’re meant to show the staggering impact that mental health actually has on our society. And yet, mental health still isn’t nearly as much of a priority as it should be.
Mental health can literally determine your quality of life. People suffering from depression, PTSD, and other anxiety-related disorders often live lives full of doubt, poor self-esteem, and have trouble maintaining healthy relationships. Depression is a serious condition that can end in suicide in some cases, which is still the second leading cause of death of people age 11-35.
Of course, depression isn’t always the cause of suicide, but it’s certainly one of the main contributors to the epidemic. Suicide rates are rising as the years pass by, and the lack of support and community resources to handle mental health have had a direct impact on this trend. When people have nowhere to turn, sometimes death seems to be the better option.
Peer support groups are so important when it comes to mental health. People with mental health conditions often feel misunderstood and isolated. A peer support group can provide an empathetic environment and the support they need to ride out the worst symptoms.
The World Is Scary
It’s no overstatement to say that 2020 has been one of the most frightening and uncertain years in recent memory. We started off the year teetering on the edge of a war with a foreign nation, with Australia on fire, and rumors of a new virus circulating across the globe. Before long, those rumors became a startling reality, and brought our very society to a grinding halt. Since then, we’ve seen massive social upheaval across the nation, political corruption, police brutality, and as I write this, Oregon and California are literally on fire.
Even the bravest person suffers from fear and doubt sometimes, and with everything that’s happened this year, it’s hard to imagine how we’d get through any of it without peer support. Even though we couldn’t gather in groups, the darkest period in the Coronavirus lockdown was still enlightened by the presence of one very important factor: human resilience and kindness.
Many say the virus has brought out the worst in people, and while we’ve certainly seen examples of that, it’s also brought out the best of us as a whole. We’re finally able to see the trouble with our society laid bare before us. The injustices, the corruption, the crumbling infrastructure; these things have been exposed for what they truly are, paving a path for a future of change and opportunity.
Sometimes You Can’t Talk To Family
Peer support groups serve a vital function in that they’re the middle-ground between keeping things to yourself and telling your family. Sometimes, you can’t or don’t want to tell your family about personal issues, and there’s no shame in that.
Teens especially feel like family is judgmental of their beliefs, decisions, and interests. You remember being a teenager, right? How much did you want to tell your parents? Not every teen has the luxury of understanding, thoughtful parents to listen to.
Our Peers Have A Huge Influence On Us
Peers can have a major impact on our lives for good or for ill, but peer support groups, in particular, are good for our mental health. They can influence us to make better decisions, take better care of ourselves, and learn to communicate better with others. They also give us the chance to use what we’ve learned to help someone else, and that’s one of the most valuable gifts you can give. Join a support group and find the community and opportunities to help others that you’ve been searching for.
