Sometimes what helps most is sitting with people who simply get it. That is the idea behind peer support. This guide explains what peer support is, what the research says about it, how it differs from therapy, and how to find a group in Pakistan that is safe to be part of.
What is peer support?
Peer support is when people give or receive support based on shared experience, as SANE Australia puts it. A peer is not your therapist. They are someone who has been through something similar, whether that is stress at work, grief, or living with a mental health condition, and who meets you as an equal.
It can be one to one, in a small group, in person or online. The World Health Organization has published guidance on peer support services, describing them as services that promote hope, the sharing of experiences and empowerment.
Does peer support work? What the research says
The honest answer is: it helps some people with some things, and the evidence is mixed.
- Depression. A 2011 meta-analysis pooled seven randomised trials (869 people) and found peer support reduced depressive symptoms more than usual care. In seven other trials (301 people), peer support and group CBT gave results that were not significantly different.
- Severe mental illness. A 2014 review of 18 trials found some positive effects on hope, recovery and empowerment, but little or no evidence that peer support reduced symptoms or hospital admissions. The authors rated most trials as at high risk of bias.
- In Pakistan. Researchers trained women from villages near Rawalpindi as volunteer peers to deliver the WHO Thinking Healthy Programme to mothers with depression. In a 2014 study in rural Rawalpindi and Goa, India, the people interviewed found local women who were mothers themselves the most acceptable people to deliver it, ahead of community health workers. But in the 2019 trial, the peer programme did not change depression severity or remission at six months after birth, though it showed some benefits on other measures and was judged cost-effective.
So peer support is not a cure. What it can offer is connection, being understood, and a sense that you are not the only one. For many people those things matter a great deal, especially alongside professional care.
How is peer support different from therapy and group therapy?
| Peer support group | Therapy (one to one or group) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who leads it | Members, or an organiser with shared experience | A trained professional |
| What it is for | Connection, encouragement, practical tips | Treatment of a specific difficulty |
| Can it diagnose or treat? | No | Yes, within the professional's training |
| Crisis care | No | Not an emergency service either; call 1122 in an emergency |
Talking therapies, whether one to one or in a group, involve talking to a trained professional about your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Peer support does not replace support from psychologists, counsellors or psychiatrists, as SANE notes, and it is often used alongside them.
Where can you find peer support in Pakistan?
Peer support groups in Pakistan are not well listed. These are options we could confirm from their own pages or reliable reports:
- Fountain House Lahore. Run by the Lahore Mental Health Association since 1971, it is described by CAREIF as a pioneering community psychiatric service, with 80 to 100 members attending daily. Its own site describes a “working community” for people living with mental illness, alongside a free outpatient department and free family counselling. It is a rehabilitation centre rather than a casual support group.
- Your university or workplace. We could not find a public, up-to-date list of student or workplace peer groups in Pakistan. Ask your student counselling office or HR what exists and who supervises it.
- Helplines that can point you on. Taskeen runs a free helpline staffed by clinical psychologists (0316-8275336) and community programmes. It is not a peer group, but it can help in a hard moment and suggest next steps.
- Safe Healing communities. Small, vetted communities for adults, described below.
How to choose a safe peer support group
SANE suggests looking for services run by trustworthy organisations that keep your information private. In practice, ask:
- Who runs the group, and can you contact them by name?
- Are there written guidelines, including on privacy and confidentiality?
- Is there a minimum age, and does the group check it?
- Does anyone moderate, and what happens if someone breaks the rules?
- Does the group make clear it is not therapy, and say where to go in a crisis?
- Is anyone selling you something, or pushing you to stop other treatment?
Be careful with what you share online, especially in large open groups. You can take time to listen before you say much about yourself.
How Safe Healing's communities work
Safe Healing runs small peer communities for adults in Pakistan. The first is Sakoon e Safar, for people who care about their peace of mind and want to be around others who do too. It is open to people aged 18 and over. To join, you fill in a short two-step request: a few details about you, at least one social profile link, and your agreement to the community guidelines, such as keeping what is shared inside the community and respecting consent and boundaries. A moderator reads every request and gets in touch by WhatsApp or email, sometimes with a quick hello call first. The community is peer support, not therapy. See all communities.
When to see a professional instead
A group can be a good place to feel less alone. But please talk to a professional if low mood, worry or stress has lasted for weeks, if it is affecting your sleep, work, studies or relationships, or if you are using alcohol or other substances to cope. Our free self-check tests can help you put words to how you feel, and our guide on finding a therapist in Pakistan explains what to look for. You can also Join the waitlist.
If you are in crisis
A peer group is not an emergency service. If you are in danger or thinking of harming yourself, call Rescue 1122 (or police on 15), call the free Taskeen helpline on 0316-8275336, or go to the nearest emergency department.
Sources
- World Health Organization (2021). Peer support mental health services: promoting person-centred and rights-based approaches
- SANE Australia: Peer support (facts and guides)
- Pfeiffer PN, et al. Efficacy of peer support interventions for depression: a meta-analysis. General Hospital Psychiatry 2011;33(1):29–36
- Lloyd-Evans B, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of peer support for people with severe mental illness. BMC Psychiatry 2014;14:39
- Singla D, et al. “Someone like us”: delivering maternal mental health through peers in two South Asian contexts. Journal of Affective Disorders 2014;168:452–458
- Sikander S, et al. Delivering the Thinking Healthy Programme for perinatal depression through volunteer peers: a cluster randomised controlled trial in Pakistan. Lancet Psychiatry 2019;6(2):128–139
- NHS: Types of talking therapies
- Fountain House Lahore: services (official site)
- CAREIF: CAREIF to partner with Fountain House in Pakistan
- Taskeen: about the helpline and community programmes
- Taskeen: free mental health helpline (contact page)
FAQ
Frequently asked
What is a peer support group?
A peer support group is a group of people who support each other because they share an experience, such as stress, loss or living with a mental health condition. Members are not usually trained clinicians. The support comes from being understood by people who have been somewhere similar.
Is peer support the same as therapy?
No. Therapy, including group therapy, is a treatment led by a trained professional. Peer support is mutual support between people with shared experience. SANE Australia notes that peer support does not replace support from psychologists, counsellors or psychiatrists. Many people use both.
Does peer support actually help?
The evidence is mixed. A 2011 meta-analysis found peer support reduced depressive symptoms more than usual care. A 2014 review of trials for severe mental illness found some gains in hope and empowerment but little effect on symptoms or hospital admissions. It seems most useful alongside professional care, not instead of it.
Are there peer support groups in Pakistan?
Yes, though few are listed publicly. Fountain House Lahore runs a member-based community rehabilitation programme for people living with mental illness. Safe Healing runs small vetted communities for adults. Your university counselling office or HR may know of local groups. Check who runs any group before you join.
When should I see a professional instead of joining a group?
See a professional if low mood, worry or stress has lasted weeks and is affecting sleep, work, study or relationships, or if you are thinking about harming yourself. In an emergency, call Rescue 1122 or police on 15. For free support by phone, the Taskeen helpline is on 0316-8275336.
