Find your peer helpers online

At the heart ofOpensynapsAll users can choose to find a peer helper called a support tandem on the topic of their choice via private messaging.

Peer helpers offer many benefits for psychological health:

Sharing experience

Peer helpers understand the challenges and struggles faced by people with mental health problems, having been through similar experiences themselves. They can share their own recovery journeys, offering hope, inspiration and perspective to those in difficulty.

Emotional support 

Support tandems can offer valuable emotional support by actively listening, expressing empathy and validating the emotions of the people they support. This can help reduce the isolation and sense of loneliness often associated with mental health problems.

Encouragement and motivation

Peer helpers can encourage individuals to become actively involved in their own recovery. By sharing their own successes and coping strategies, they can inspire and motivate people in difficulty to persevere and take positive steps to improve their mental health.

Autonomy

Support tandems empower people in difficulty by offering practical skills and knowledge to help them cope with their mental health problems. Peer helpers can teach self-management techniques, share resources and provide information on available support services.

Stigma reduction

Peer helpers help reduce the stigma associated with mental health problems by demonstrating that healing and recovery are possible. By highlighting concrete examples of people who have overcome their difficulties, they help to change negative perceptions and promote a more positive view of mental health.

It is important to note that peer helpers do not replace mental health professionals, but complement existing services by offering informal support based on personal experience.