• Dhwani Agarwal

Peer support groups are initiatives where people sharing similar mental conditions come together to cope with the same better and offer social and emotional support. They are either properly organized and managed by various organizations, groups and individuals who are professionally trained; or they are run informally again by organizations, groups or individuals who have had no former professional training in mental health. This paper explores the advantages, limitations and scope of such an informal peer support group in the middle of an ongoing global pandemic COVID 19. The paper highlights that a peer support group can lead to developing shared identities, increased confidence, acknowledgement of mental conditions and provides a safe space for expression. On the other hand, issues of accountability, vulnerability, lack of training and others remain crucial.

Peer Support Group, Mental health, mental illness, pandemic

"Exploring the Possibilities of a Peer Support Group in the ongoing Global Pandemic COVID 19", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 9, page no.e32-e37, September 2021, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2109506.pdf

"Exploring the Possibilities of a Peer Support Group in the ongoing Global Pandemic COVID 19", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 9, page no. ppe32-e37, September 2021, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2109506.pdf