More Peer Respites in Massachusetts

Drawing of a peer respite (Afiya in Northampton, Massachusetts)

HELPS US FLOOD THE JOINT COMMITTEE'S E-MAIL WITH LETTERS ASKING THEM TO PASS THE BILL THAT WOULD CREATE MORE PEER RESPITES IN MASSACHUSETTS!!!


S.1238/H.3602, An Act Establishing Peer-Run Respite Centers Throughout the Commonwealth would not only help Massachusetts to develop more peer respites, but would support states across the nation to follow in our footsteps.

We ask that you take five minutes to watch this video of a father speaking about the loss of his daughter and what could have made a difference in her life, and then share it with the legislators who will soon be making a decision about whether or not to support more peer respites in MA.
Peer respites offer an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization and other more invasive measures. For many people, they can be life changing and even life-saving. They are a place where people can go to stay for up to two weeks and where they will have their own private bedroom and access to peer-to-peer support throughout their time there. Unlike many more clinical options, they focus on supporting someone to turn crisis into a learning opportunity.

Research has also suggested that peer respites have many positive impacts including:

  • Up to 70% reduction in use of Emergency Rooms and hospitals
  • Increased belief in one's self and their ability to move through emotional crisis
  • Increased sense of belonging to a community
  • And more

On the other hand, research is often showing that inpatient psychiatric facilities often lead to increased suicide risk, increased sense of hopelessness and reluctance to seek support when needed in the future.

Help us tell Massachusetts legislators that we need more access to alternatives because everyone deserves a choice and opportunity to heal!

We Need Your Help

Peer respites continue to be unavailable to most people living in the Commonwealth either because they live too far from existing peer respites, or because the peer respites are frequently full. More peer respites would benefit many people who struggle, their loved ones who have so few alternatives to turn to themselves, and multiple peer-run organizations in the state.

This legislation would require at least one peer respite per county, including respites that prioritize LGBTQIA+ and Black and Brown communities.

Use this form to send legislators a message to PASS THE BILL FOR MORE PEER RESPITES NOW!