2. Methodology
Study Design
This mixed-methods study combined survey data with qualitative storytelling to measure the emotional and practical impact of peer and community-based support.
Data Collection
Timeframe: March 15, 2024 – December 21, 2024
Participants: 842 individuals
Methods:
Online survey (20 questions)
Optional long-form story submission
Follow-up interviews with 26 participants
Demographics Collected:
Age, gender identity, race/ethnicity
Prior experience with mental health care
Whether participant had used Project Semicolon or similar peer/community-based resources
Types of Peer Support Explored:
PS peer supporters / Semicolon Helps
Local support groups (in-person or virtual)
PS and mental health-related social media communities
Friends or loved ones with lived experience
3. Participant Overview
| Demographic Category | % of Participants |
|---|
| Age | |
| 14–24 | 29% |
| 25–44 | 50% |
| 45+ | 21% |
| Gender Identity | | | Women | 57% | | Men | 30% | | Nonbinary/Other | 11% | | Prefer not to say | 2% |
| Prior Use of Mental Health Services |
|---|
| Yes – 64% |
| No – 36% |
| Engaged in Peer/Community Support |
|---|
| Yes – 91% |
| No – 9% |
4. Key Findings
1. Peer Support Often Precedes Clinical Help (61%)
“Talking to someone like me gave me the strength to try therapy.”
Many participants described peer support as the first safe step toward recovery, helping them feel validated before entering the formal system.
2. Emotional Safety Matters More Than Credentials (73%)
“They didn’t need a degree. They needed to care.”
Respondents often rated emotional connection, lived experience, and feeling understood as more important than professional credentials in moments of crisis.
3. Community-Based Care Reduces Suicidal Thoughts (47%)
“The only reason I didn’t end my life that night was someone replying to my post.”
Almost half of participants reported a direct impact on their suicidality after receiving community-based or peer support—especially during moments when clinical care was unavailable.
4. Ongoing Connection Builds Hope (68%)
“Seeing people like me living through it gave me hope I might, too.”
Long-term participation in online or local communities helped many feel less isolated and more connected to others with similar struggles.
5. Trust in the Mental Health System Increased After Peer Support (39%)
“They helped me believe therapy could help.”
Some participants said they had given up on traditional care until peer supporters encouraged them to try again—with better outcomes.
5. Quotes from Participants
“She wasn’t a therapist. She was someone who’d been there. That’s all I needed in that moment.”
— 19-year-old participant, California
“Every time I posted in the PS group, someone answered. That’s more than I can say for my doctor.”
— 32-year-old male, Ohio
“We didn’t fix each other. We sat in the dark together. That was enough.”
— 44-year-old participant, Canada
“My friend messaged me just to say, ‘I’m glad you’re still here.’ I was holding a bottle of pills when I read it.”
— 23-year-old participant, UK
6. Implications and Next Steps
The findings confirm that peer support isn’t supplemental—it’s essential. As mental health systems remain overburdened, underfunded, or out of touch, communities are saving each other’s lives in real time.
Recommendations:
Expand the Semicolon Helps program, ensuring peer supporters are available across time zones and platforms.
Train chapter leaders and community volunteers in trauma-informed listening and safe response techniques.
Develop hybrid care models where clinical and peer support systems collaborate more closely.
Advocate for peer support to be recognized and funded as part of national mental health strategies.
7. Acknowledgments
We are deeply grateful to every participant who opened their heart and shared their journey. Your vulnerability is not only powerful—it’s creating change.
8. Contact
To learn more, join our peer support network, or partner with Project Semicolon, contact:
📧 research@projectsemicolon.com
