A pioneering peer-support initiative in Catalonia offering lived-experience assistance for people with severe mental health conditions

The “Suport entre Iguals” project is designed to empower individuals with severe mental health conditions by offering support from peers who have undergone similar experiences. Built on the concept of the “Pacient Expert by Experience” model, the initiative seeks to transform how mental-health recovery is approached, shifting from purely professional-led support to lived-experience-driven connection. Through structured training and practice, the project trains participants who have experienced mental health challenges to act as supporters and guides to others in their recovery journeys.

The process begins with a cohort of around ten participants undergoing 160 hours of training, including theoretical content and practical placements within community rehabilitation services of the Institute of Healthcare (known as IAS). After this preparation phase, the peer-experts begin delivering a series of twelve‐session workshops to approximately one hundred users of the mental-health network in the Girona region. The topics covered include recovery skills, crisis prevention and management, creation of personal support networks, empowerment and self-determination.

The project situates itself within a wider regional model of community-based mental-health care and intends to reduce reliance on long-stay institutional settings. It also incorporates a digital monitoring component via messaging support and AI-enabled interaction to follow up on user needs and crisis risks. By acknowledging the value of lived experience and mutual support, the project emphasizes dignity, human rights, and community inclusion for people with psychosocial disabilities.