134. Peer Support Defined: Understanding the Many Forms of Peer Support in Rural Communities Artwork

The Stepping In It Podcast with Renee Schulte & Jason Haglund

The Stepping In It Podcast is a weekly discussion of the latest news and trends in behavioral health policy development and practice. Each episode features interviews with experts from across the field, including policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and advocates. The podcast provides listeners with practical tips and resources for improving the quality and access to behavioral health care.

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The Stepping In It Podcast with Renee Schulte & Jason Haglund

134. Peer Support Defined: Understanding the Many Forms of Peer Support in Rural Communities

March 24, 2026 • Renee Schulte

0:00 | 30:34

In this episode, the hosts kick off a new series exploring the role of peer support in behavioral health and rural communities. They unpack what “peer support” really means, the many different models that exist across North America, and how peers show up in settings ranging from mental health and substance use recovery to agriculture, first responders, and community organizations. Drawing on experiences from their travels and research, they explore how neighbors helping neighbors has evolved into a growing workforce of certified peer specialists while also remaining rooted in informal community support. The conversation highlights why peer programs matter, the expanding roles peers play, and the opportunities—and challenges—of strengthening these supports in rural systems of care.

In this episode, you will be able to:

What peer support and peer recovery mean and how these roles vary across programs and communities.
The different types of peer models, including recovery coaches, family support programs, first responder teams, and agricultural mental health initiatives.
How peer support programs are structured, trained, and funded across the United States and Canada.
Why peer support plays such an important role in rural communities where neighbors helping neighbors is often the first line of support.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:09 - Introduction to the Peer Support Series

00:01:20 - Rural life, travel, and launching the conversation on peers

00:03:45 - What “peer support” actually means

00:07:30 - Different peer models: recovery coaches, family support, and community programs

00:11:15 - Peer programs in law enforcement and first responder communities

00:14:40 - National organizations and structured peer programs (NAMI and others)

00:18:05 - Agricultural mental health initiatives and rural peer networks

00:21:10 - Data on the peer support workforce in the United States

00:24:30 - Why peer support matters for rural behavioral health systems

00:27:00 - Looking ahead to future episodes in the series

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