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Shaping Your Own Journey with Insights From Experienced Peers

Watch these short videos to find valuable, firsthand advice from peer specialists who have many years of combined experience in the field. They include specific advice that these seasoned veterans would give to new peer specialists as they enter their careers. Find practical insights to help you grasp the different systems of care, navigate relationships, maintain peer support values, understand roles, establish boundaries, and much more.

Advice for New Peer Specialists

Justin Volpe, Peer Support Specialist at NASMHPD and Amy Brinkley, Recovery Support Systems Coordinator at NASMHPD discuss setting boundaries, practicing self-care, finding support, and establishing networks.

Peer Support Values in Different Work Environments

Justin Volpe and Tony Sanchez, Peer Support Specialists at NASMHPD, discuss remembering the importance of your role, capturing the client’s story, and believing in your value.

How to Maximize Your Relationship with Your Supervisor as a Peer Specialist

Amy Brinkley, Recovery Support Systems Coordinator at NASMHPD and Lisa Ragan, Director of Peer Recovery Services at Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services share advice on building a strong and supportive relationship with your supervisor.

Tips and Strategies for Sharing Your Lived Experiences: A Trauma-Informed Approach

Amy Brinkley, Recovery Support Systems Coordinator at NASMHPD and Lisa Ragan, Director of Peer Recovery Services at Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services share tips for sharing your lived experience through a trauma-informed lens.

How Peer Support Specialists Utilize a Person-Centered Approach

Amy Brinkley, Recovery Support Systems Coordinator at NASMHPD, and Heather Rodriguez, Vice President of Recovery and Advocacy Programs for Mental Health America of Indiana, discuss how peer support utilizes a person-centered approach to support all pathways to recovery.

Peer in Different Criminal Justice Settings

Justin Volpe, Peer Support Specialist at NASMHPD, and Ron Wilson, Treasurer of National Treatment Court Alumni Association, discuss the roles of peers in justice settings.

The Importance of Culturally Relevant Peer Support Services

Justin Volpe, Peer Support Specialist at NASMHPD and Philip Cooper, Chief Change Agent for Operation Gateway discuss the importance of culturally relevant peer support services.

About

About This Initiative

SMI Adviser is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and administered by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). The APA works closely on this project with a team of experts from 30 other mental health organizations. This team includes individuals, families, clinical experts, peers, and policy makers – all working to create access to the best resources on serious mental illness (SMI).

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Resources

Resources on Serious Mental Illness

When it comes to serious mental illness (SMI) it is crucial to find information you can trust.

SMI Adviser offers researched, vetted and verified guidance to the best resources on SMI.

Our national experts answer questions directly from mental health clinicians. Our education catalog provides access to in-depth mental health courses. And our online Knowledge Base is a searchable guide to answers on SMI, clinical resources, mental health fact sheets, and more.

For Clinicians For Individuals & Families
A mental health clinician researches available educational resources on the SMI Adviser website. Four providers looking at a computer while two providers in the background look at a television screen

1 in 25 Adults

has a serious mental illness (SMI) in a given year

That adds up to 10.4 million people, or 4.2% of U.S. adults 18 or older.

We Have A #MissionForBetter

SMI Adviser has a simple mission. To advance the use of a person-centered approach to care for people who have serious mental illness (SMI).

How do we do that? We offer a clinical support system that mental health clinicians can trust. Access an array of evidence-based education, resources, and answers from our team of mental health experts.

This leads to better care so people with SMI can live better lives.

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A clinician takes notes while meeting with an individual with lived experience.
A couple uses the SMI Adviser mobile app at a park.

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