NYC Health + Hospitals has graduated over 50 individuals with lived experience in mental health of substance abuse conditions from their Peer Academy, a program dedicated to training peer counselors, according to a Jul 24 news release shared with Becker's.
The training and employment of peer counselors aims to provide a connection between caregivers with lived experience in mental health and substance abuse struggles and traditionally difficult to reach populations. Additionally, the program acts as a method of recovery for its trainees.
NYC Health + Hospitals currently employs 86 peers on staff across the health system — the largest hospital-based peer workforce in the city, according to the release. The Peer Academy program consists of both self-directed hours for state certification and structured training, including six weeks of classroom training and a full-time, hospital-based internship with rotations in various mental health units.