Abstract
Peer support happens when people assist one another with information, skills, emotional support, social support, or practical assistance. It is important to understand what peer support is, how it can help an individual, and why it should be encouraged and practiced. The chapter focuses on peer support, especially online peer support that was provided during the covid era for those going through grief and trauma. The chapter's goal is to gather as much research and data regarding peer support for grief and trauma counseling during the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to enlighten the importance of peer groups and the types of peer group support that exist. The chapter will enable future counselors to understand the isolation aspect of grief and trauma and provide guidance to individuals to get the necessary peer support.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Self-Efficacy: a strict isolation imposed to prevent the spread of disease
Self Esteem: a realistic respect for or favorable impression of oneself; self-respect
Trauma: when we experience very stressful, frightening, or distressing events that are difficult to cope with or out of our control.
Grief: keen mental suffering or distress over affliction or loss; sharp sorrow; painful regret.
Depression: a low mood or loss of pleasure or interest in activities for long periods
Bullying: the act of harassing, intimidating, or abusing others, especially habitually or from a perceived position of relative power
Bereavement: a period of mourning after a loss, especially after the death of a loved one
Empathy: the psychological identification with or vicarious experiencing of the emotions, thoughts, or attitudes of another
COVID-19 Pandemic: a potentially severe, primarily respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus and characterized by fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. In some people, the disease also damages major organs, such as the heart or kidneys
Quarantine: a strict isolation imposed to prevent the spread of disease
Cultural Humility: A personal lifelong commitment to self-evaluation and self-critique whereby the individual not only learns about another's culture, but one starts with an examination of her/his own beliefs and cultural identities.
Mourning: the period or interval during which a person grieves or formally expresses grief, as by wearing black garments