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Promoting Success in Agriculture for People with Disabilities and Their Families

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Winter 2008 , Vol. 8, No. 2

Table of Contents at bottom PDF Version

Focus – Peer Support

What is Peer Support?

Chances are that most of us have experienced peer support at some point during our lives.  Turning to a friend, neighbor, family member, or even a stranger for assistance, guidance, or simply to talk to, are all forms of peer support.  The peer support relationship is based on a sharing of experiences, mutual respect, and empathy; in these ways, the function of peer support can be very similar to that of having a best friend.¹

The concept of peer support as a rehabilitative tool goes beyond being a best friend, by providing both emotional and informational support. Peer support is a one-on-one relationship between two people who share similar lifestyles and experiences. Peer supporters are typically trained to listen non-judgmentally, offer emotional support, share their experiences of struggling with a disability, disease, or other life changing event, and discuss community resources and coping mechanisms that worked for them. By serving as role models, sharing experiences, and offering support to another individual, peer supporters also enhance their self-confidence. See figure ¹.

Figure 1: The Benefits of Peer Support²

Peer support as a tool in therapy was first used in 1935 by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The premise of AA is that people who had experienced and overcome alcoholism could be more effective than professionals in assisting others who wished to become sober.³ Today peer support is used effectively with recovering substance abusers, victims of physical or sexual abuse, people living with chronic conditions, breast cancer survivors, amputees, and other disabling conditions.⁴  Peer support can be delivered through support groups, peer-led face-to-face meetings, telephone-based interactions, or web and email-based programs.  The definition of what constitutes peer support is as varied as the diverse array of peer support programs in existence, yet the fundamental principle is the same: Individuals who have similar life experiences can better relate and thus offer more effective emotional support and practical advice in helping another person through a difficult situation.⁴

Peer Support and AgrAbility

Farmers, ranchers, and their families experience a unique array of external and internal stressors while pursuing their chosen career in agriculture.  Often, sources of stress are outside their control, such as weather, farm prices, and equipment breakdowns.  A disability may add another layer of stress that may not only affect the psychological health of the person with the disability and his or her family, but may also threaten the day-to-day operation of the farm and its financial stability. Whether due to a conservative ethic, a desire to be self-sufficient, or the lack of adequate health care services, farmers and ranchers are less likely to seek counseling or other public resources than their urban counterparts.⁵ Where do farmers/ranchers go to cope with these stresses, or learn how to farm with a disability? This is where peer support can help.

An AgrAbility peer support program can be a natural extension of an already existing support system.  Farmers and ranchers have practiced the principles of peer support for generations by helping each other in times of need. Sometimes the support is provided over a cup of coffee with a neighbor or at a community event where friends and families come together to meet a specific farmer’s challenge. Farmers are more likely to accept encouragement and support from someone they relate to, rather than a paid professional.

From an AgrAbility program’s perspective, peer support volunteers can be a cost effective way to mobilize rural resources and organize supportive networks that provide encouragement and motivation, sharing of experiences, and examples of healthy coping strategies. AgrAbility peer supporters are not expected to be therapists or social workers but rather someone who has effectively faced similar life stresses and challenges and is willing to listen, empathize, and provide information, reassurance, and friendship.

The ideal personal characteristics of AgrAbility peer supporters include having a positive attitude, a high regard for themselves and for others, being genuine, empathetic, respectful and accepting, and of course, possessing the desire to help others.

AgrAbility peer support programs are either informal or formalized, based on the level of involvement between the peer supporter and the person being supported. If an AgrAbility peer support program matches a farmer with a specific peer support volunteer, the volunteer has typically participated in a training program to prepare for the support role. Training topics include active listening, building rapport, coping skills and adjustment to a disability, problem solving, recognizing signs of stress, and maintaining a healthy, objective support relationship.