Podcast Summary: The Power of Lived Experience as a Behavioral Health Care Strategy

Podcast: Advancing Health by American Hospital Association
Episode Date: February 2, 2026
Guests:

• Zylia Baugh – Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health, JPS Health Network
• Melanie Cooper – Peer Support Specialist, JPS Health Network
  Host: Rebecca Chickey, Vice President of Behavioral Health and Trustee Services, AHA

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the transformative role of peer support specialists in behavioral health care, highlighting how their lived experience with mental illness and substance use supports patients’ recovery, improves outcomes, and bridges clinical gaps. The discussion explores JPS Health Network’s strategic use of peer support, the practical functions of the role, and the personal expertise that peer support specialists like Melanie Cooper bring to patient care.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to JPS Health Network and Behavioral Health (00:56–02:00)

• JPS Health Network is a large safety-net hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, serving a rapidly growing community and providing extensive behavioral health services.
• The hospital has invested in peer support specialists across all care settings: inpatient psych units, outpatient clinics, and the psychiatric emergency center.

2. What Is a Peer Support Specialist? (02:01–05:17)

• Definition: Individuals with lived experience in mental illness or substance use disorders, trained to support others on their recovery journeys.
• Roles: Facilitate groups, meet with new inpatients, provide individual support, navigate community resources, and assist with social determinants of health (housing, food, transportation).

“The first thing they [patients] see is hope when they come in because there’s someone right in front of them with lived experience that’s in recovery now and they’re helping people.”
— Zylia Baugh (04:57)

• Peer support specialists are crucial to the Transition Coordinator Program: They perform intensive follow-up with discharged patients for up to a year, aiming to reduce readmissions and support continued recovery.
• JPS’s 5.03% readmission rate is attributed in large part to this peer-led navigation and support.

3. Training and Hiring of Peer Support Specialists (05:17–06:42)

• In Texas, peer support specialists require state certification. JPS supports uncertified hires in obtaining this credential.
• Key hiring criteria:
  • Personality and interpersonal skills (“the people stuff is the first thing we look for”)
  • Depth of personal recovery experience
  • Certification (can be obtained post-hiring if needed)

4. A Day in the Life of a Peer Support Specialist (07:06–11:50)

• Inpatient Support:
  • Conduct “interdisciplinary interviews” to understand each patient’s barriers and goals.
  • Lead recovery-focused groups and share personal recovery stories to inspire patients.
  • Perform “readmission surveys” to help at-risk patients plan better for post-discharge success.

“We meet the patients where they’re at… learning about them as that person that they are, who they are, what they love to do.”
— Melanie Cooper (07:25)

• Discharge Planning and Emergency Services:

  • Provide practical support and resource linkage for those transitioning home or to shelters.
  • Offer a “warm handoff” and ensure safe, informed discharge plans.

• Team-Based Care:

  • Collaborate daily with social workers, doctors, nurses, and residents to address patient needs.
  • Act as a bridge between clinical staff and patients, ensuring patient voices and personal wisdom inform care plans.

“We don’t push recovery on anyone… it’s what works best for you. Because we believe that person individually knows what’s best for them.”
— Melanie Cooper (10:55)

5. Collaboration, Not Competition (11:50–12:39)

• The peer support role complements — rather than competes with — clinical staff.
• Emphasizes the importance of teamwork within behavioral health interventions.

6. Call to Action: Why All Health Systems Should Consider Peer Support (12:39–13:43)

• Peer support isn’t just for formal behavioral health units. All health systems encounter patients in need of support for life-altering events.
• Individuals with lived experience (cancer survivors, heart attack survivors, etc.) are valuable resources for patient navigation and hope.

“Peer support specialists are an untapped resource that I think is well overdue in all hospital settings.”
— Zylia Baugh (13:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the power of lived experience:
  “The first thing they see is hope when they come in because there’s someone right in front of them with lived experience that’s in recovery now and they’re helping people.”
  — Zylia Baugh (04:57)

• On personal approach:
  “We meet the patients, where they’re at... learning about them as that person that they are, who they are, what they love to do.”
  — Melanie Cooper (07:25)

• On nonjudgmental support:
  “We don’t push recovery on anyone… it’s what works best for you. Because we believe that person individually knows what’s best for them.”
  — Melanie Cooper (10:55)

• On system-wide applicability:
  “Peer support specialists are an untapped resource that I think is well overdue in all hospital settings. Whether it’s somebody that is a cancer survivor, heart attack survivor… these people have life experience and hope to share to help people where they are.”
  — Zylia Baugh (13:30)

Key Timestamps

• 00:56 — Introduction to JPS Health Network and their behavioral health programs.
• 02:01 — What is a peer support specialist and how are they integrated at JPS?
• 05:17 — How JPS hires and certifies peer support specialists.
• 07:06 — Melanie Cooper describes the daily realities and impact of her role.
• 11:50 — Addressing concerns about role overlap and the power of collaboration.
• 12:39 — Zylia Baugh’s call to action for other health systems.

Conclusion

This episode presents a compelling case for the integration of peer support specialists across healthcare settings, underscoring how their unique lived experience and person-centered approach fosters hope, empowers patients, and meaningfully improves outcomes. The conversation blends institutional strategy with the lived realities of frontline specialists, offering inspiration and practical guidance for health organizations considering this model.