Article

Ask the Experts: When to Offer Peer Support

Written by Samoana Matagi on October 21, 2021

Family + Friends

About "Ask the Experts"

In this advice column for Burn Support Magazine, a panel of experts draws on their personal and professional experience to offer guidance. They do their best to make it good advice, but remember that their opinions and views can never replace the diagnosis, treatment, or care of a licensed physician or mental health professional.

Dear Experts,

I just celebrated my 61st Burn Anniversary and recently completed my Phoenix SOAR Peer Supporter training. Recently we learned that a distant friend's husband was burned. We then learned he had an appointment on the same day we were having a Phoenix SOAR meeting and invited him to attend in person or virtually. His wife responded that she would ask about the program during the appointment.

It is easy to see that my friend and her husband are really struggling physically and mentally. Should I stay quiet and wait for them to ask for assistance, or should I try to reach out to them to see if a home visit from me would help both of them?

- Bill



Dear Bill,

Congratulations on celebrating your 61st Burn Anniversary and becoming a Phoenix SOAR Peer Supporter! I'm glad you're a peer supporter and I believe you'll find it empowering to help other survivors in this manner. You're already helping just by inviting your friend’s husband to the peer support meeting. Keep inviting them. Often a survivor or loved one will learn the most when they are open and ready, but taking that step is easier when they are getting invites, especially from friends like yourself.

For safety reasons, Phoenix Society advises against Peer Supporters making home visits. The Phoenix SOAR Peer Support Program is organized by coordinators assigned to each unit. The coordinators are responsible for matching survivors and loved ones with trained Peer Supporters who share similar experiences or identities. The Coordinator also gauges whether the survivor/loved one is open to receiving a visit.

I suggest getting in contact with the Phoenix SOAR Coordinator at your unit and discussing your concerns. The Coordinator may be able to contact the patient and see if they are ready for a Peer Support visit. They’ll also match the patient with the best peer(s) to offer support. This may or may not end up being you. If not, continue supporting them in the role of friend—that is just as important!

Samoana Matagi
Burn Survivor + Phoenix SOAR Peer Supporter

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