Mental Bytes Prepares for Online Peer Support Pilot

We’re happy to share an important update from Mental Bytes: our online peer support initiative is moving into its next phase.

This initiative is a collaboration with Intentional Peer Support (IPS) and Traustur Kjarni. IPS provides the framework we work from. It guides how we listen, talk, and support others in a respectful and equal way. Traustur Kjarni provides the trained peers who will be offering the sessions.

Online peer support at Mental Bytes is simple by design. It’s a one-on-one conversation with a trained peer who has lived experience. There’s no diagnosing, no fixing, and no pressure. Just a safe space to talk, think things through, and be heard by someone who understands.

Today we had our first meeting with all participating peers. This meeting focused on values, safety, boundaries, and coordination. It confirmed that we’re aligned in how we want to offer support.

We will start offering free sessions in April. These sessions will help us test, learn, and improve the offering step by step. We’re starting small on purpose, because trust, care, and quality matter more than speed.

We’re doing this because mental health support doesn’t always need to be clinical to be helpful. Many people simply need a real conversation with someone who listens without judgment and understands from experience. Peer support creates space for that.

This collaboration reflects what Mental Bytes stands for: accessible and responsible support. We’re looking forward to starting the pilot and learning together as we go.