(Photo Unsplash – Shane Rounce)
By Deacon Eric Gurash
This article is part of an ongoing series discussing the core values of peer support within a faith-based framework. As with many of the pieces presented, the hope is to illustrate how secular approaches to mental health care and support resonate with and are enriched by the practices and teachings of faith. Common to most approaches to peer support are a series of seven core values that provide guidance in creating safe spaces of encouragement and empowerment in peer support. These are Acknowledgment, Mutuality, Strength-based, Self Determination, Belonging and Community, Respect, Dignity, and Equity, and Curiosity.
Today, we’re examining the principle of mutuality and how a support focus on mutuality can foster reciprocal and equity-based relationships, reflecting the necessarily communal nature of peer support and how this principle is informed and enhanced in our faith communities.
Mutuality in peer support is a lived experience where relationships are mutual and reciprocal. It’s a practice that actively breaks down hierarchies, allowing for a space where all voices are heard and valued. In this space, participants or group members aren’t defined by their roles but are partners on a shared journey of healing. Together, they co-create a collective or community-based relationship where support is not a one-way street but a shared path of giving and receiving. This dynamic process involves everyone in the group, both in offering and receiving support and in boundary creation, ensuring a safe and respectful environment for everyone involved.
Unlike traditional mental health services, which often involve a hierarchical relationship between a professional and a client, the spiritual peer support model used by faith communities is built on the principle of equality and shared experience. This value is essential for creating a supportive and empowering environment. It is a vital component in healing and building resiliency for individuals whose experience with mental health challenges often leaves them feeling powerless and without a voice.
“The whole purpose and intent of the incarnation was a desire for mutuality, that the Triune Creator of All Things would be able to share human life with their human family, to grow in knowledge and wisdom together, to laugh, cry, and love together.”
Grounded in shared experiences, mutuality connects peers through everyday challenges and triumphs, fostering a sense of understanding and empathy that is often difficult to achieve in professional-client or clergy-parishioner relationships. This shared experience creates a strong bond and a sense of solidarity. Both parties benefit from the relationship, and this reciprocity helps balance the dynamic, making it more equitable and empowering for everyone. It shifts the focus from one person being helped to both people engaging in a supportive exchange, significantly enhancing the journey towards recovery and wholeness.
Spiritual peer support groups that value mutuality empower individuals by valuing their lived experiences and recognizing their ability to contribute to the well-being of others. This empowerment fosters self-efficacy and confidence, which are crucial for recovery. Peers learn from each other, share coping strategies, and provide mutual encouragement. This empowerment through mutuality enables individuals to reclaim their sense of agency and control over their lives.
Promoting an environment of equality and respect, mutuality challenges the traditional power dynamics in many mental health settings by ensuring that all support group members are viewed as equals. This respect for each other’s experiences and perspectives helps build trust and a deeper connection. In a mutual relationship, everyone’s voice is valued, and boundaries are co-created, ensuring a respectful and safe space for all participants.
The emotional support experienced through shared understanding, empathy, and mutuality allows individuals to know that someone else has faced similar challenges and is willing to listen without judgment. This can be incredibly comforting and validating, reducing feelings of isolation and stigma often associated with mental health issues. Mutual emotional support fosters a sense of belonging and acceptance; the fact that this essence of belonging can occur with a faith community increases this experience as individuals now find themselves held with compassion and understanding within a community of shared belief where faith becomes another shared tool in building resiliency and discovering hope.
As we continue to examine the core values of peer support, we see how these principles align with the model of Jesus Christ, whose life was a testament to the power of mutual relationships. The whole purpose and intent of the incarnation was a desire for mutuality, that the Triune Creator of All Things would be able to share human life with their human family, to grow in knowledge and wisdom together, to laugh, cry, and love together.
Jesus consistently demonstrated compassion and empathy in His interactions, especially with those who were marginalized, suffering, or in need. He shared their pain and offered hope and healing, resonating with the mutuality in peer support. Jesus treated everyone with dignity and respect, breaking hierarchical social, cultural, and religious barriers. His interactions with women, tax collectors, lepers, and Samaritans exemplify His commitment to treating each other as equals, regardless of one’s background or mental health status.
Jesus empowered His disciples and followers, encouraging them to serve and support one another. The washing of the disciples’ feet (John 13:1-17) is a powerful example of servant leadership, paralleling the mutuality in peer support, where both individuals empower each other through mutual care and service.
The image of the Church as the Body of Christ, as encountered in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 and as discussed in the Second Vatican Council’s dogmatic Constitution, Lumen Gentium, emphasizes mutuality, showing how each member’s contribution is valuable and how supporting one another strengthens the community. In this light, the Church’s healing ministry, emphasizing wholeness, healing, and care, can be seen as a form of spiritual companionship, where individuals walk together in their faith journeys, offering spiritual and emotional support. Engaging in prayer and the sacraments also enhances this mutual support, providing spiritual nourishment and strength. Encouraging peers to pray together and participate in the sacraments deepens these mutual relationships and provides essential spiritual and mental health support.
By embodying mutuality, individuals witness Christ’s love for one another, creating a supportive environment that reflects the compassionate love of Jesus Christ. This witness can be a powerful testament to the healing and transformative power of mutual support grounded in faith. The life and ministry of Jesus Christ, scripture, and Catholic teachings deeply inform and complement the core value of mutuality in mental health peer support by emphasizing compassion, equality, empowerment, communal support, and the inherent dignity of every person.
There is a beautiful synergy between the core values of peer support between the secular mental health and addictions environment and the Christian perspective. As more Catholic and Christian dioceses, parishes, and communities develop much-need mental health ministries, examining this synergy and intentionally incorporating core values such as mutuality can enrich the practice of spiritual peer support and deepen our appreciation for the mutual care that lies at the heart of both mental health recovery and our faith communities.
Find out more about spiritual peer support and mental health ministry in the Archdiocese of Regina at emmaussupport.ca/
