Introduction to peer support – Training in Premančan, May 5–8, 2026

From Tuesday, May 5, to Friday, May 8, 2026, the Center Sonček Elerji – Premančan hosted the program “Basics of Peer Support Work,” which was organized by the Center for Deinstitutionalization (CDI).
The four-day training was intended for peer support workers in multidisciplinary teams (MDTs). This concluded the first major training module for this new role within MDTs. The first part of the training, the recovery course, was held at the CDI in March and April and focused on reflecting on personal recovery experiences, as personal experience is one of the key pillars of peer support workers’ practice.
During the final four-day training session in Premančan, participants explored a wide range of topics essential for high-quality peer support work. They explored the values and goals of peer support and shared experiences working with clients, as well as the challenges they face in their work. Special attention was given to working in a multidisciplinary team, the boundaries of various professional roles, and the definitions of peer support.
Communication skills, active listening, supervision in challenging situations, and self-care also constituted an important part of the program. In the final part of the training, they focused on the ethics of peer support, user rights, support groups, and individual peer support work.
The program was led by psychologist Petr Vítek and peer support worker Emma Gejdošová from the Center for Mental Health Care Development in Prague (Czech Republic), who have considerable experiences in introducing peer support into community services.

The training represented an important step in strengthening the knowledge and skills of peer support workers in Slovenia and in the further development of peer support within community mental health services.

We are pleased that, together with MDTs, we are laying the groundwork for the first major, high-quality employment of peer support workers in the field of mental health in Slovenia. Thank you to the training facilitators for an excellent program, and thank you to all the peer support workers for their active participation!