Peer support encourages an authentic human connection with another person who shares similar life experiences – in this case, the unique stressors and challenges faced by physicians. Peers offer non-judgmental listening and non-clinical support with life, work and other issues.

We aim to facilitate these confidential, non-clinical, empathetic conversations between colleagues, where physicians feel safe to share issues they are experiencing with someone trained to listen.

Peer support is distinct from (1) therapy, (2) mentorship where an experienced peer is providing clinical or career advice, and (3) direct clinical care. For example, if a physician presents with suicidality, substance use, mental health concerns, or requesting personal medical advice, providing direct support for these issues is out of scope of the peer supporter role. 

What are the goals of peer support?

• Create a safe space for peers to share experiences and seek emotional support.
• Listen non-judgmentally, validate and empathize with the experiences of peers.
• Empower peers to recognize existing strengths and resources, and build on coping strategies that work for them.
• Connect peers with community resources if they need support beyond the scope of peer support.
• Promote a broader sense of community and a positive, supportive workplace culture.

When might someone benefit from peer support?

Peer support might be helpful for physicians who experience work or life stressors and require emotional, non-judgmental support. Examples of these scenarios might be:

• Adverse clinical event (including but not limited to an adverse patient outcome).
• Patient or college complaint.
• Interpersonal/relational conflict with a patient or colleague.
• Acute life stressor which impacts career (e.g. birth of a new child or bereavement).
• Struggles with burnout/moral injury.
• A change that has happened at work that impacts you emotionally.
• Experience of discrimination or alienation/othering at work (e.g. related to race, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability or other) from patients, colleagues or staff.