The Peer Review Quarterly https://peersupportniagara.org/ An independent editorial guide to peer support, mutual aid and community mental health, written for readers in the Niagara region and beyond. en Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT What Peer Support Actually Meanshttps://peersupportniagara.org/peer-support-basics/what-peer-support-means/https://peersupportniagara.org/peer-support-basics/what-peer-support-means/Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTPeer Support BasicsPeer support is mutual help among people with shared experiences. It is not therapy. Here is what it looks like and how to know if it fits. Peer Support and Clinical Care Comparedhttps://peersupportniagara.org/peer-support-basics/peer-support-versus-clinical-care/https://peersupportniagara.org/peer-support-basics/peer-support-versus-clinical-care/Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTPeer Support BasicsExplore how peer support differs from clinical mental health care and how they can work together effectively. Why Lived Experience Counts as Expertisehttps://peersupportniagara.org/peer-support-basics/lived-experience-expertise/https://peersupportniagara.org/peer-support-basics/lived-experience-expertise/Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTPeer Support BasicsLived experience brings practical knowledge, empathy and hope that professional training alone cannot replicate, making it a vital form of expertise in mental health support. What Mutual Aid Is and Is Nothttps://peersupportniagara.org/niagara-mutual-aid/what-mutual-aid-is/https://peersupportniagara.org/niagara-mutual-aid/what-mutual-aid-is/Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTNiagara Mutual AidMutual aid is solidarity, not charity. Learn what sets it apart from service delivery, with a practical comparison and decision checklist. The Practice of Non Clinical Listeninghttps://peersupportniagara.org/peer-support-basics/non-clinical-listening/https://peersupportniagara.org/peer-support-basics/non-clinical-listening/Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTPeer Support BasicsNon clinical listening is a core peer support skill. Learn how to listen without diagnosing, fixing, or giving advice, while staying boundaried and safe. Boundaries and Safety in Peer Groupshttps://peersupportniagara.org/peer-support-basics/boundaries-and-safety/https://peersupportniagara.org/peer-support-basics/boundaries-and-safety/Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTPeer Support BasicsHow peer groups set boundaries that protect both the helper and the helped, and what to do when limits are tested. Mutual Aid and Community Mental Healthhttps://peersupportniagara.org/niagara-mutual-aid/mutual-aid-and-mental-health/https://peersupportniagara.org/niagara-mutual-aid/mutual-aid-and-mental-health/Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTNiagara Mutual AidMutual aid builds community mental health through peer support, shared resources, and social ties. Learn how it works and how to start. Mapping Niagara Community Initiativeshttps://peersupportniagara.org/niagara-mutual-aid/mapping-niagara-initiatives/https://peersupportniagara.org/niagara-mutual-aid/mapping-niagara-initiatives/Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTNiagara Mutual AidHow to find mental health and mutual aid resources across Niagara Region, using official directories, local knowledge and steady verification habits. Support in Small Towns and Rural Areashttps://peersupportniagara.org/niagara-mutual-aid/rural-and-small-town-support/https://peersupportniagara.org/niagara-mutual-aid/rural-and-small-town-support/Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTNiagara Mutual AidPractical questions to ask when seeking peer support in a smaller Niagara community, from travel and privacy to warm handoffs. Referrals and Warm Handoffshttps://peersupportniagara.org/niagara-mutual-aid/referral-and-warm-handoff/https://peersupportniagara.org/niagara-mutual-aid/referral-and-warm-handoff/Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTNiagara Mutual AidHow community groups can refer someone onward without losing the relationship. Practical steps for warm handoffs, follow-up and trust. Starting a Peer Support Group: A Practical Guidehttps://peersupportniagara.org/building-groups/starting-a-peer-group/https://peersupportniagara.org/building-groups/starting-a-peer-group/Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTBuilding GroupsA step-by-step guide to launching a peer support group, covering purpose, members, facilitation, privacy, and sustainability for community mental health. Facilitation Basics for Peer Groupshttps://peersupportniagara.org/building-groups/facilitation-basics/https://peersupportniagara.org/building-groups/facilitation-basics/Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTBuilding GroupsA guide to what peer group facilitators actually do, from planning to closing, based on evidence and best practices. Sustaining a Group Over Timehttps://peersupportniagara.org/building-groups/sustaining-a-group-over-time/https://peersupportniagara.org/building-groups/sustaining-a-group-over-time/Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTBuilding GroupsPeer groups fade from fatigue, not failure. A practical look at rota sharing, rotating facilitation and honest endings. Privacy and Records in Peer Groupshttps://peersupportniagara.org/building-groups/privacy-and-records/https://peersupportniagara.org/building-groups/privacy-and-records/Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTBuilding GroupsNotes, confidentiality and record keeping in peer support: what your group should decide, write down and store, or safely leave unrecorded.