As someone who has recently suffered a spinal cord injury, you can expect your life to change in many ways, most of which will not be familiar to you. Having a trusted source of information and guidance – someone who has been through the experience themselves – can be of tremendous value to any new SCI patient.

We call them “peer mentors.”

They are spinal cord injury survivors who have already faced the uncertainties you face and the challenges you meet every day. They are willing to share what they’ve learned in hopes of making your own transition to a life with an SCI as smooth as possible. Yes – doctors, nurses and therapists do some of this work, too. But the power of a peer mentor with whom you can connect is that you both see the world through the eyes of someone who’s life has been forever altered by spinal cord injury.

Because peer mentors have been through what you are going through, they are good listeners. They understand the difficulties you face physically and emotionally. They empathise with the anger or frustration you may be experiencing because they’ve been there, too. In sharing their own experiences, a peer mentor can help you learn how to confront your own feelings, emotions and difficulties in the critical time after your injury has occurred.

Peer mentors, too, can help prevent future medical complications that may arise as a result of your spinal cord injury. In the weeks directly after sustaining an SCI, patients’ bodies change, meaning that other serious, more life-threatening problems such as urinary tract infections, autonomic dysreflexia and pressure sores, amongst others, may arise. A peer mentor can talk you through these issues and advise you on what steps they took to avoid such complications.

Living your own healthiest life, even with a spinal cord injury, is key to your happiness and longevity. However, as a new spinal cord injury sufferer, you may not have been informed how or where to remain active with your unique condition. Again, leaning on their own knowledge and experience, a peer mentor can help you find exercise facilities, guide you through doctor recommended exercises or even introduce you to activities such as tennis, basketball or other sports that you may not have thought possible due to your injury.

One thing to bear in mind is that every peer mentor or peer mentoring relationship is different. Some may be solely in person. Others may be over the phone or online. Others yet may be a mixture of all three. The important thing is to connect with a peer mentor with whom you feel “a good fit”. In addition to finding a mentor who is reliable, trustworthy and knowledgeable, you should seek someone who encourages your active participation in the relationship and understands the importance of you setting goals as part of your rehabilitation process.

Remember, too, that a peer mentor, whilst extremely helpful, is not a medical professional. Which is why any peer mentor relationship begins with a discussion with your rehabilitation programme professionals about your needs, interests and goals.