PEER-TO-PEER
A number of local and national condition-specific peer-to-peer support groups are available. Connect with your subspecialist as they may know of a group that may be able to support you.
Resources for Emotional Health Support
Resources for the emotional well-being of youth with chronic conditions, their families, and care teams.
For Families & Caregivers
Family Voices: Resources and peer support for families of children with special health needs.
Kids Mental Health Foundation: Mental health resources by state.
Condition-specific groups like Sisters-by-Heart, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, and Autism Speaks offer tailored education and community support.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Support groups, education, and helplines.
For Youth
Youth Advisory Councils (YAC): Connect with peers and share feedback on care experiences.
MentalHealth.gov: Trusted information on mental health and how to seek help.
For Clinicians & Providers
Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFAC): Partner with families to enhance care delivery.
APA Psychologist Locator and Psychology Today Directory: Find licensed mental health professionals.
Child Psychiatry Access Programs: State-based consultation services for primary care providers.
“People gravitate toward peer support because of its humanizing effect on our challenging health care system. And we love that it provides that personal connection to better understand physical and emotional impacts of chronic illness and it is 100% patient-centered . . . Peer-to-peer supports looks different for everyone, but that feeling of validation and understanding by someone who has walked in your shoes – we learn from each other and gain tools to live healthier lives as parents, patients, and siblings."
— Stacey Lihn, parent of child with single ventricle heart disease and president, Sisters by Heart
