A peer‐support initiative enabling older residents to receive support on mental health and substance use from trained experts by experience

This initiative by the City of Helsinki’s Senior Services and its mental health support services for older adults offers older residents facing substance use or mental health challenges the opportunity to meet with individuals who themselves have lived through similar situations and been trained as “experts by experience.” Participants can arrange between one and five individual meetings at their preferred service centre.

The aim is to provide accessible, age-appropriate peer support, enabling older adults to engage with someone of a similar generation rather than being redirected to younger peer networks or outpatient services meant for broader populations. The experts by experience also support the professional workforce by bringing lived‐experience insight into the service delivery; for example, they may accompany a client to their first Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting or guide them into a peer support group.

Multiple peer support groups are being offered within the mental health support services program, one for older adults reducing or stopping substance use, one for older adults whose loved ones have substance use problems, one for depression or depressive symptoms, and one for those grieving. They also include two rehabilitative programs: a home‐based social rehabilitation service and a six‐week residential group rehabilitation module.

The experts emphasize the importance of being able to speak to someone “who’s been there,” and the initiative seeks to increase openness, reduce isolation and support recovery in later life. The program is designed to be low‐threshold, users may self‐refer, and the meetings are easy to set up. Experts receive training, supervision and remuneration. In this way, Helsinki’s Social and Health Services value the knowledge acquired through life experience alongside professional care.