Youth Peer Support (YPS) provides communities with access to co-designed, culturally responsive, and real-world applicable strategies that center youth voice and lived experience. As a youth-led organization, Youth MOVE National is deeply committed to advancing youth-driven mental health solutions. Our YPS work is not only grounded in lived expertise – it is backed by evidence, values-based leadership, and a commitment to equity.

Psychology (and the broader mental health field) has a responsibility to ensure that all individuals, especially those from under-resourced and underserved communities, receive equitable, affirming, and relevant support. Too often, standards of care have been shaped by dominant and privileged perspectives within academia, neglecting the unique challenges and strengths of youth who have been pushed to the margins. By placing youth with lived experience at the center of support efforts, we begin to correct that imbalance.

Implementing youth peer support is a complex but deeply impactful process. According to Turuba et al. (2023), success requires a structured roadmap that includes thoughtful planning, adequate resources, and sustained partnerships. When done well, YPS doesn’t just benefit individual participants – it fosters community healing, leadership development, and long-term systems transformation.