Peer support and planning ahead

Someone who has been there, on your side, before things get hard.

A trusted peer by your side, your rights explained, and a written plan for how you want to be treated in a crisis.

Talk to someone Refer someone

Starting in our pilot

A peer supporter with braided hair sits beside an older Black man at a kitchen table, pointing to a line as he writes in a notebook.

What you get.

Who it’s for

Adults aged 18 and over in Salford and Manchester
People who have been in a mental health crisis, or worry they might be
People who have been in hospital under the Mental Health Act
People who are wary of services and want someone independent

A peer with lived experience
A trained, paid peer supporter who has been through hard times too. You meet at home, on a walk, in a community venue or by phone.
Someone outside your circle
We match you with someone from outside your own community by default, so your story stays yours. You can ask for someone from your community instead.
Your rights, explained
Plain-language explainers on being detained, rights in hospital, advocates and leaving hospital, checked by an independent advocate.
A plan in your own words
Write down what helps, what doesn’t, who to call and how to talk to you when you are unwell. You approve every line.
You decide who sees it
Share your plan with your GP, your care team or someone you trust, by secure link. Take it back at any time.
A card for your wallet
A card that says you have a plan. Professionals can ask to see it, and you are told every time they do.

How it works.

1
Say hello
Message us on WhatsApp, fill in a short form, or ask someone to refer you.
2
A short chat
A coordinator asks a few questions about what you want. We never ask about a diagnosis, medication or immigration status.
3
Meet your peer
We suggest a peer and check privately that you don’t already know each other.
4
Plan ahead, together
Over a few weeks you write your plan, in your words and your language.

For professionals

Plan support helps trusts meet their duties under PCREF and prepares people for the new rights in the Mental Health Act 2025. Every plan is the person’s own statement, written with a peer, and shared only with recorded consent.

Working with trusts and commissioners

What the evidence says

Crisis-planning interventions lowered the risk of compulsory admission by about a quarter, in a review of five trials involving adults with psychotic illness or bipolar disorder. The evidence for peer support is mixed, which is why our pilot measures what changes from the very first person.

Why now

Good to know.

Is Ownsay part of the NHS?

No. We are an independent community organisation. We work alongside services, but we are not part of them, and we never share anything about you without your say-so.

Is a plan legally binding?

An advance statement is your written wishes. Professionals must consider it, but it is not legally binding. It is not legal advice, and it is not a binding refusal of treatment. If you want one of those, we will point you to an advocate or a solicitor.

Can I change my peer?

Yes, at any time, and you never have to give a reason.

Is it a crisis service?

No. We don’t offer out-of-hours replies. If you need help now, call 999, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option, or call Samaritans free on 116 123.