Free, anonymous matching
Users access 1:1 chat, structured check-ins, and accountability loops without sharing their identity.
Platform
What Peerakeet delivers
The essentials you receive when using Peerakeet for anonymous, compassionate peer support.
The Crisis We're Addressing
Young adults face unprecedented challenges with mental health, substance use, and social isolation.
Connection is Health
In 2023, former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared loneliness a public health epidemic. Social isolation increases the risk of premature death by 26–29%—comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
71% of Gen Z report feeling lonely, far higher than any other generation.
The Harvard Study of Adult Development, spanning over 85 years, found that the quality of our relationships is among the strongest predictors of health and well-being.
The Addiction Surge
Nearly 1 in 3 young adults (18–25) meets criteria for substance use disorder—the highest rate of any age group.
Most are coping with co-occurring trauma, anxiety, or depression. Yet the vast majority suffer in silence, unable or unwilling to access traditional treatment.
Fewer than 1 in 10 youth with SUD receive treatment, and among adolescents with SUD, 97.5% never seek help (2022 NSDUH).
How Connection Improves our Wellbeing
In Bruce Alexander's Rat Park experiments, isolated rats consumed morphine compulsively, while rats in enriched social environments largely avoided it, even when drugs were freely available. The lesson is clear: addiction isn't merely exposure to a substance—it's also the isolation and disconnection that comes with it.
Adolescents are more likely to adopt healthy (or unhealthy) behaviors when encouraged by near-age peers rather than authority figures. For someone struggling with substance use, talking to a peer in recovery feels safer and more relevant than talking to a counselor who may have not lived that experience.
Peer Support Works
Research demonstrates that peer support is effective across diverse contexts, from addiction recovery to managing serious mental illness. Unlike traditional clinician-patient relationships, peer support is built on mutuality and shared understanding.
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Significant decreases in substance use, depression, and rehospitalizations
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Increases in hope, self-care, and sense of well-being
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Improved SUD treatment engagement and retention
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Major health and recovery gains for a fraction of the cost of traditional care
The World Health Organization published guidance on establishing peer support services in 2021, recognizing peer support as a cornerstone of person-centered mental health care. From Kenya to Canada, WHO-documented programs demonstrate that peer-led models are scalable, sustainable, and emphasize autonomy, dignity, and inclusion.
Platform Features
Everything you need to experience compassionate, evidence-based support.
Certified peer support
Badged peers and verified organizations ensure conversations stay compassionate, trained, and trusted.
FERPA & HIPAA aligned
No PHI stored—privacy-first infrastructure that protects your information.
Cohort insights & dashboards
Real-time, aggregated trends help partners respond quickly while protecting individual stories.
Built for Gen Z (18–30)
Mobile-first experience designed with high-need populations in mind, from tone to UX to safety.
Immediate crisis support
Direct access to emergency resources, crisis hotlines, and professional help when users need it most.
Science-Driven Design
Peerakeet translates behavioral research into every feature.
Smart Matching
Social Learning Theory
We pair users with peers who share similar experiences. Research shows people trust and emulate those they perceive as similar to themselves, making peer connections uniquely powerful for behavior change.
Guided Conversations
Motivational Interviewing
Prompts use evidence-based MI techniques—open-ended questions, reflective listening, affirmations—to move conversations beyond small talk into therapeutically relevant territory.
Self-Monitoring Tools
CBT & ACT
Journals, mood trackers, and trigger logs help users identify patterns and build self-awareness. Research confirms that tracking moods and cravings leads to insight and progress.
Community Forums
Therapeutic Factors
Group spaces foster what Yalom termed 'universality'—the powerful realization that you're not alone in your struggles.
AI-Powered Safety
Safety is paramount. Peerakeet employs AI moderation that monitors for high-risk indicators while respecting privacy and anonymity. Using trauma-informed principles, the system flags concerning language—suicide plans, acute relapse, harassment—and provides a safety net.
The goal isn't to police conversations but to ensure support. If someone is in crisis, the AI prompts resources (988, Crisis Text Line, campus counselors) and alerts human moderators when needed. This aligns with Constitutional AI principles: making AI systems helpful, honest, and harmless through predefined ethical guidelines.
Built to Scale
Digital delivery means Peerakeet can reach anyone with a smartphone, expanding access to rural areas and underserved communities. The platform scales efficiently: adding users doesn't require proportional increases in staff, as AI assists with moderation and matching.
Peer support that was once limited by geography and workforce can now reach broad populations. Aggregated, anonymized data can inform public health responses, helping institutions identify trends and tailor wellness programs without compromising individual privacy.
References
- Anthropic. (2023). Constitutional AI: Harmlessness from AI feedback. https://arxiv.org/abs/2212.08073
- Castedo de Martell, S., Moore, M. B., Wang, H., Holleran Steiker, L., Wilkerson, J. M., Ranjit, N., … Brown, H. S., III. (2025). The cost-effectiveness of long-term post-treatment peer recovery support services in the United States. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 51(2), 180–190. https://doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2024.2406251
- Davidson, L., Bellamy, C., Guy, K., & Miller, R. (2012). Peer support among persons with severe mental illnesses: A review of evidence and experience. World Psychiatry, 11, 123–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wpsyc.2012.05.009
- Eddie, D., O'Connor, J. B., George, S. S., et al. (2025). Peer recovery support services and recovery coaching for substance use disorder: A systematic review. Current Addiction Reports, 12, 40. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-025-00645-8
- Holt-Lunstad, J., et al. (2015). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: A meta-analytic review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2), 227–237.
- Murthy, V. (2023). Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General's advisory on the healing effects of social connection and community. Office of the Surgeon General, U.S. DHHS.
- National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). (2022). SAMHSA.
- Sledge, W. H., Lawless, M., Sells, D., Wieland, M., O'Connell, M. J., & Davidson, L. (2011). Effectiveness of peer support in reducing readmissions of persons with multiple psychiatric hospitalizations. Psychiatric Services, 62(5), 541–544. https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.62.5.pss6205_0541
- Veenstra, R. (2025). Harnessing peer influence: A summary and synthesis of social network and peer-led intervention research. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/01650254251331201
- World Health Organization. (2021). Peer support mental health services: Promoting person-centred and rights-based approaches. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240025783
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