Co-developing peer support training for former jurors in Canada

Breaking the silence around jury duty

Jury duty is a civic duty and an important pillar of the justice system. For many, it is a rewarding experience. But for some, particularly those who serve on trials involving violence, abuse, or other traumatic content, jury duty can have a lasting impact on mental health.

For decades, Canada's strict jury secrecy rules created an additional burden. Section 649 of the Criminal Code prohibited jurors from disclosing any information about deliberations to anyone, even mental health professionals, for life. Many mental health professionals refused to take on former jurors as clients, fearing legal repercussions. Former jurors were left isolated and alone, unable to process what they had experienced.

In January 2023, a new law came into effect that changed this. Bill S-206 created an exception to the secrecy rule, allowing jurors to discuss their trial experiences with healthcare professionals for mental health support. This opened the door not just to therapy, but to peer support: former jurors supporting others who have been through similar experiences.

The Canadian Juries Commission saw an opportunity to develop something new. They asked Habitus to help them create the training and support structures needed to make peer support for jurors a reality.

Challenges

Peer support for former jurors had never been done in Canada. The secrecy rules still apply in important ways: peer supporters and the jurors they support cannot discuss deliberation details, decision-making, or events that occurred during deliberations. But they can discuss the emotional impact of jury duty, and that is where peer support can make a real difference.

Developing training for this context required careful navigation. The peer supporters needed to understand the boundaries of what could and could not be discussed, while still being equipped to offer meaningful emotional and practical support.

What we did

We worked closely with the Canadian Juries Commission to co-develop and deliver a peer support training programme tailored to the unique context of jury service.

Co-developing the training: We designed the training in partnership with the Commission, drawing on our expertise in peer support and lived experience leadership. The programme was developed to align with the guidelines and practicum of Peer Support Canada and the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

A trauma-informed approach: The training was designed to be trauma-informed throughout, recognising that both peer supporters and the people they support may be carrying difficult experiences. We focused on helping peer supporters stay away from deliberations and instead create space for people to explore the emotional impact of their jury service.

Delivering training to the first cohort: We trained the first cohort of peer supporters, all of whom are former jurors with lived experience of serving on complex or traumatic cases. Training covered core peer support skills alongside the specific legal and emotional context of supporting fellow jurors.

Building capacity through mentorship: We provided ongoing mentorship to the trained peer supporters, helping them build confidence and capability to lead the work themselves over time.

How we made a difference

This work helped establish something that had never existed before: a structured peer support service for former jurors in Canada. By co-developing the training with the Commission, we ensured it reflected the realities of jury service and the legal boundaries within which peer support must operate.

The trained peer supporters are now able to offer something that professional mental health services cannot: the understanding that comes from shared experience. They know what it is like to sit through a traumatic trial, to carry the weight of a verdict, and to struggle with the aftermath. That connection can be powerful.

Results

The Canadian Juries Commission now offers a Jury Duty Peer Support service, currently operating as a pilot programme in British Columbia with funding from the Department of Justice Canada. Former jurors can access free, confidential support from trained peer supporters who have been through similar experiences.

The peer supporters are certified according to the guidelines of Peer Support Canada and the Mental Health Commission of Canada. The service is available to jurors after they have been fully discharged from jury duty, whether they served on a criminal trial, civil trial, or coroner's inquest.

As one former juror described: "I felt like I was isolating myself day after day. The feeling kept growing. I felt totally alone. I'm so happy The Canadian Juries Commission is here creating programs for jurors."

We continue to work with the Canadian Juries Commission, refining the training based on learning from the pilot and preparing to deliver further peer support training.

Mark Farrant, CEO and Founder, The Canadian Juries Commission: "Habitus held the space with real care. The feedback from those on the training has been overwhelmingly positive — the scenarios and materials really reflected what our peer supporters would encounter."

Habitus has deep expertise in developing peer support training for new and challenging contexts. If you are looking to establish peer support in a setting where it has not existed before, get in touch.