Table 1.

Key terms and definitions related to peer support

Terms	Definitions
Peer support	The process of giving and receiving nonprofessional, nonclinical assistance from individuals with similar conditions or circumstances to achieve long-term recovery from psychiatric, alcohol, and/or other drug-related problems
Recovery	A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential22
Peer support group	Where people in recovery voluntarily gather together to receive support and provide support by sharing knowledge, experiences, coping strategies, and offering understanding23
Peer provider (eg, certified peer specialist, peer support specialist, mentor, and recovery coach)	A person who uses his or her lived experience of recovery from mental illness and/or addiction, plus skills learned in formal training, to deliver services in behavioral health settings to promote mind–body recovery and resiliency24
Peer mentorship	Where individuals in later recovery provide nonprofessional, nonclinical assistance to individuals in earlier recovery with similar conditions or circumstances to achieve long-term recovery from psychiatric, alcohol, and/or other drug-related problems