New Partnership Aims to Transform Schizophrenia Care Through Peer Support
A new partnership aims to improve care for people living with schizophrenia in the U.S. The National Council for Mental Wellbeing and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) have joined forces to address gaps in treatment. Their collaboration began with a white paper highlighting the role of peer support workers in schizophrenia care.
The initiative also includes two pilot programs focused on expanding peer services and using data to enhance long-term support. The National Council for Mental Wellbeing and BMS announced their partnership to strengthen schizophrenia care. The organisations released a white paper that examines how peer support workers—individuals with lived experience of mental health or substance use challenges—can improve treatment engagement. These workers help build trust, reduce isolation, and connect people to community resources.
The paper also provides recommendations for healthcare leaders and policymakers. It suggests increasing funding for peer programs, simplifying referral processes, and improving reimbursement policies. The goal is to make peer support more widely available in community-based settings.
Alongside the white paper, two pilot programs have launched. One focuses on expanding and strengthening peer support services. The other explores predictive analytics to improve continuity of care for individuals with schizophrenia.
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) play a key role in this effort. These clinics offer crisis care, therapy, primary care, and social services. With over 500 CCBHCs operating across the U.S., the partnership aims to integrate peer support more effectively into their systems.
BMS, a global biopharmaceutical company, brings expertise in developing treatments for serious diseases. The National Council, a membership organisation, advocates for better mental health policies. Together, they seek to advance evidence-based approaches and improve access to recovery-focused services. The collaboration between the National Council and BMS targets better schizophrenia care through peer support and data-driven solutions. The white paper and pilot programs aim to create more effective, integrated treatment options. If successful, the initiative could lead to broader adoption of peer services in community mental health settings.
