The main focus of the Peer Support Research Initiative (PSRI) is on the organization, financing, and delivery of peer support.  The PSRI focuses on doing research that promotes person-driven and recovery-oriented policy - at the local, state, and national levels. The mission of the PSRI is to conduct responsible, socially-conscious, and participatory research on peer support that helps shape policy and practice.

_Peer support is a process of bringing mutual support and shared responsibility for recovery to relationships between peers with lived experience of mental health recovery.  Peer support is one of the ten components of recovery identified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). They define peer support as: "including the sharing of experiential knowledge and skills and social learning...Consumers
encourage and engage other consumers in recovery and provide each other with a sense of belonging, supportive relationships, valued roles, and community."

_The PSRI aims to help build the evidence-base for peer support, and to put information in the hands of stakeholders than can make a difference in people's lives. The PSRI makes every effort while designing and conducting research to listen to your voice and your needs.  It is important that you keep us informed and up-to-date on important policy and peer support practice issues.  Input from stakeholders is regularly solicited in order to make research relevant and accessible.  Whether you are a peer, family member, administrator, provider, policy-maker, or researcher, the PSRI is here to help you help people.