COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH INNOVATIONS: LEVERAGING PEER SUPPORT NETWORKS abstract

Background: Innovations in community-based mental health care are becoming increasingly important as the world faces a growing burden of mental health problems. Aim: This research explores how peer support systems are transforming the delivery of mental health services in community-based settings. Peer support, given by people with lived experiences, helps by offering emotional, informational, and practical assistance to create a sense of belonging, reduce stigma, and encourage recovery. Methods and Materials: By synthesizing current literature and performing case analyses, this paper discusses different models, including online forums and community collectives, and elucidates their positive outcomes for engagement, accessibility, and patient satisfaction. In addition, the paper explains how traditional mental health systems utilize and train peer supporters, advancing holistic care delivery. Results: The results highlight the power of peer support as a means of fostering resilience, decreasing demand for formalized mental health services, and increasing the effectiveness of provision. Conclusion: To fully realize these benefits, systemic policy reform and funding investments must occur, reflecting a paradigm shift toward both a comprehensive, yet community-informed and experience-driven model of mental health care rooted in solidarity.