What is the Compeer Program?

The Compeer Program matches caring, sensitive trained volunteers with mental health clients in a one to one peer relationship. The Compeer program seeks to fill in a gap which may occur between treatment services and an adequate support system of family and friends.


What does the word Compeer mean?

"Compeer" means a companion who is also a peer or equal. Loneliness, failure, fear and a loss of self esteem are universal experiences of those who suffer from mental illness. A friend can help to restore some joy and hope to a life that needs it.


Where did the Compeer Program originate?

The program originated in Rochester, New York in 1973. Currently there are over 100 programs across the the U.S., Canada, and the Netherlands. Over 20,000 people have been matched. Compeer has received many awards and recognition from the American Psychiatric Association and National Institute of Mental Health.

Why Compeer?


Compeer fills a vital need in our communities. In the past, the mentally ill have been discharged into communities where in theory they would live richer, more productive lives than they could in institutions. The reality is different. Many of the mentally ill face indifference, or outright hostility. People who suffer from mental illness, who are living both in out of hospitals suffer from the isolation and loneliness that accompanies their illness. The majority lack a strong support system. They may have families who live far away or who aren't active in their lives. They have a therapist, but a missing link is a supportive friend. As a consequence, many formerly institutionalized people are caught in the revolving door between community and the hospital; others enter the judicial system; still others are homeless. Compeer fills a gap between isolation and a sense of belonging. For those who are hospitalized, the volunteer provides a connection to the community. For those who haven't been hospitalized the relationship with their friend may keep them out of the hospital. In some cases the volunteer is the only person the client sees on a regular basis.
In an era of inadequate staffing, decreased funding and deteriorating support systems, Compeer addresses this national problem by matching community volunteers in supportive, rehabilitative relationships with mental health clients. Compeer brings the simple premise of friendship to the complex field of mental health.
Compeer has become the answer to the problem of diminishing dollars for mental health services by providing volunteers as an adjunct to therapy. Compeer volunteers provide a direct service to the mental health consumers. The service hours these volunteers donate add up to a significant dollar amount. People matched with Compeer volunteers have a lower rehospitilization rate than those who are unmatched. This saves money and bed space. Clearly, Compeer pays off both for monetary and humanitarian reasons.
The cost effectiveness of the simplicity of friendship in the Compeer model has been the subject for presentations at regional and national conferences in the US and Canada. Compeer has been highlighted at the National Conferences of :

The National Alliance for the mentally ill
The National Mental Health Association
The National Council of Community Mental Health Centers
The International Association of Psychological Rehabilitation Services
The Association of Volunteer Administrators
National Volunteer Conference


How does the Compeer program work?

Volunteers are asked to make a commitment of one hour a week for at least a year. This is flexible, while many volunteers choose to spend more time each week. If the volunteer is ill or out of town they may choose to substitute their hour with two phone calls or a postcard by mail. Volunteers receive five hours of training from the Compeer staff and other local mental health providers. Therapists refer their own clients into the program. The volunteer meets the referring therapist. Volunteers send in monthly reports which keep track of their weekly and monthly hours. This monthly report also gives the volunteer an opportunity to make suggestions, report concerns, etc. A copy of this report is sent back to the therapist.
Volunteers also receive ongoing support from the Compeer staff. Volunteers may call the Coordinator at any time with questions or concerns. Periodically, volunteers may all meet together to discuss their progress with their match, share problems and ideas. Other events may be planned such as a picnic with all volunteers, their Compeer friends and Compeer staff.

Back to Compeer of Tuscaloosa


st visiter.