Between growth and wear:

Objective: This study explores peer workers’ lived experiences of their role, including the benefits and challenges, in Norwegian mental health and substance use services. Research Design and Methods: A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing five focus groups conducted across four Norwegian cities. The study included 24 peer workers with lived experiences of mental ill health and/or substance use. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify patterns of meaning across the participants' accounts. Results: The analysis identified two main themes: “the push and pull of peer work” and “negotiating role and self-care in a challenging system”. Participants experienced the role as a source of both personal growth and profound exhaustion. While finding the work deeply rewarding, peer workers struggled with an unclear professional role, systemic barriers, and a lack of recognition within complex clinical environments. Conclusion: Peer work provides meaningful contributions to mental health care but carries considerable personal costs for the workers. While the study is contextually situated in Norway, the findings highlight a broad need to move beyond individual coping strategies. Developing supportive organizational structures, ensuring role clarity, and providing specialized supervision are essential clinical applications to sustain peer workers and successfully integrate recovery-oriented care.