The Booster peer group model in English

Right from the start, I felt I could breathe easier realising that I wasn’t alone.

Group participant

What can you expect from peer group activities?

Peers share enough in common with each other to understand each other’s experience and situation. There is a lot of research on the benefits of peer support. Peers can provide, for example,

• Information and tips and tricks
• A sense of hope, relief from worries and ways to strengthen coping skills
• Support for growth as a person and professional

The Booster model is aimed at promoting mental well-being, strengthening resources and preventive stress management. Booster does not constitute therapy and it is not intended for solving crises situations or treating mental health problems.

The peer group was really good and gave me faith and self-confidence to promote my own employment, career direction and tools to promote my own occupational wellbeing.

Group participant

Themes discussed in a Booster peer group include:

• Work ability and recovery
• Professional identity
• Self management and time management
• Developing and communicating your competence
• Money
• Collaborations and psychological safety
• Networking

How to organize a Booster peer group

A Booster group can be either self-managed or it can be organized by an organization.

A self-managed group needs a convener, but is otherwise responsible for organizing itself as a group. In a group organized by an organization, someone is responsible for the group and will arrange the time, space and possibly a professional to facilitate the group meetings.

The group can operate 1) without a designated facilitator, 2) facilitated by a peer or 3) facilitated by a professional, such as a counsellor or coach.

Booster groups can be organized by:

• Self-employed and freelance professionals as well as unemployed people in the arts, culture and events sectors
• Working groups
• Collectives and communities
• Organizations
• Clubs
• Associations
• Trade unions
• Foundations that support the work of professional artists
• Pension insurance companies

What are the possible costs related to organizing a Booster group?

In principle, Booster peer group activities are free of charge to the participants. The cost of arranging a Booster group depends on how the group meetings are held.

• Potential costs for self-managed groups include, for example, rent for premises
• Potential costs for organizing parties may include:
  • Rent of premises
  • Working time of the organizing party
  • Remuneration of the group facilitator
  • Catering
  • Communications and marketing

Contact us

Send a message to mielenterveyden.tyokalupakki [at] ttl.fi (mielenterveyden[dot]tyokalupakki[at]ttl[dot]fi) if you

• would like help in organizing a Booster group
  or want a free Booster deck (in Finnish)
• are wondering about anything related to the Booster model or you want to give feedback
• would like to share your experiences in organizing a Booster peer group.

Booster background

• Booster was created based on coaching and peer groups carried out in 2024. A total of 25 groups were organized for self-employed people, freelancers, grant recipients and sole entrepreneurs in the arts, culture and events sectors.
• The groups were part of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health’s Mental Health Toolkit project, which is part of Finland’s Sustainable Growth Programme. The project’s partners are the Arts Promotion Centre Finland, the Center for Cultural Policy Research Cupore, the Finnish Musicians’ Union and the The Trade Union for Theatre and Media Finland.