Seven New Peer Group Facilitators Trained

Today, What The Finland trained seven new peer group facilitators. The training was led by Petri Komulainen, a true expert in peer support, who guided participants through the principles and practical skills of facilitating peer support groups.

Peer support is a valuable way of promoting wellbeing, resilience and a sense of belonging.

“Its strength lies in shared experiences and mutual understanding. Meeting someone who has faced similar challenges can really help people feel heard, understood and less alone”, says Raija Koivisto, CEO of What The Finland.

Peer support groups provide a supportive environment where participants can discuss their experiences and challenges. Sharing experiences can strengthen mental wellbeing, build confidence, reduce loneliness and help participants discover new perspectives and ways forward.

“Facilitators with an immigrant background bring valuable lived experience, cultural understanding and the ability to build trust across different communities. They can act as bridges between people, helping participants feel understood, included and empowered to share their experiences.”

Peer support is part of the everyday work

At What The Finland, peer support is not just a separate activity. It is an important principle that runs through many of the organization’s core activities.

“We believe that people have valuable knowledge and experience to share, and that everyone should have opportunities both to receive support and to offer it to others”, says Project Director Kristina Lillqvist.

By training new peer group facilitators, What The Finland strengthens the capacity to create safe spaces for sharing, listening and learning from one another.

“We believe that peer support helps build stronger individuals and stronger communities. It reminds us that support does not always have to come from professionals or institutions. Sometimes, it begins with another person saying: I understand. I have been there, too.”

Building communities where nobody has to manage alone

What The Finland has identified a growing need for peer support among several groups whose wellbeing may be under pressure:

• People navigating a new country, society or working life. Finding your place in a new country and society can involve many challenges, from learning a new language and understanding unfamiliar systems to building social connections, entering education or finding employment. These experiences can affect people of all backgrounds, including young people growing up in Finland and those entering a new working environment. Differences in culture, expectations and communication, as well as experiences of racism or discrimination, may add to the pressure. Safe peer groups offer an opportunity to share experiences, gain understanding and build mutual support.
• People experiencing employment challenges and uncertainty. Unemployment, repeated setbacks in job searching, difficulties accessing employment opportunities and ongoing uncertainty about work can create significant psychological and financial pressure. This also affects people working on short-term or temporary contracts, who may face constant uncertainty about their future income and employment. These situations can affect self-confidence, weaken a sense of security and belonging, and increase the risk of mental health challenges and social isolation. Peer support can help people maintain hope, recognise their strengths and feel less alone during uncertain times.
• Immigrant women experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence or difficult and unsafe family situations. Women who experience violence, coercive control, isolation or other difficulties within their relationships or family situations may face additional barriers when seeking help. These may include language barriers, cultural expectations, dependency on a partner and limited support networks. Culturally sensitive and confidential peer support can offer a safe space to share experiences, strengthen self-confidence, reduce isolation and help women recognise their rights and available support options. Peer support can complement professional assistance by providing understanding, connection and encouragement to seek help when needed.
• Employees in education, teaching, social and healthcare services, integration and employment support. Increasing workloads, demanding responsibilities, emotional strain and constant changes in working environments can take a toll on employees’ wellbeing. Over time, these pressures may contribute to exhaustion, compassion fatigue, reduced motivation and an increased risk of burnout or work-related cynicism. Peer support offers an opportunity to share experiences, gain understanding and find renewed strength in demanding working conditions.

These groups may have very different life situations, but they share a need for understanding, connection and opportunities to be heard. Through developing peer support and peer support group activities, What The Finland wants to strengthen the connections between people and create communities where no one has to face life’s challenges alone.