CMHA Algoma recognizes how invaluable lived experience is in supporting and inspiring individuals who are on their journeys of wellness and recovery. Peer Support is a powerful opportunity for a person – a Peer – living with mental health and/or substance use struggles to connect with another person – a Peer Worker – who has experienced with similar challenges and has gone through their own personal wellness journey/recovery process.
The selectively shared lived experience of a Peer Worker is a knowledge that can give the Peer a unique perspective on finding and maintaining wellness. When a person knows they are not alone and that someone can relate to them through the common ground of lived experience, that understanding can build an authentic and therapeutic rapport and offer a sense of empowerment and hope.
Peer Support is a mutual relationship where the Peer and the Peer Worker learn together, find meaning in their experiences, and explore what personal recovery and wellness looks like for each person. Peer Support is values-driven and the Peer Support Program and CMHA Algoma operates from the values set out be Peer Support Canada.
Peer Support Canada Values
- Hope and Recovery
- Empathetic and Equal Relationships
- Self-Determination
- Dignity, Respect, and Social Inclusion
- Integrity, Authenticity, and Trust
- Health and Wellness
- Lifelong Learning and Personal Growth
Peer Supports will focus on:
- Introducing a “recovery support plan” and or a “recovery crisis plan”
- Discussions of recovery values and principles
- Facilitate peer conversation
- Strengths and wellness
- Support communication
Services Include:
One on one formalized peer support– for individuals who want to meet with another who has lived experience with mental health concerns/addictions
Advocacy– in areas such as housing, income support, employment etc.
Educational seminars– explore different aspects of recovery, mental health and community.
Peer Workers available at: Community Wellness Bus (Offers onsite medical assessments, basic necessities, harm reduction supplies, peer support, support for health and social service referrals, health and social service professionals such as registered nurses, peer workers, and anti-human trafficking workers are on the bus four days a week), Community Resource Centre (offers a variety of services for people, partnering agencies set up stations and provide information to interested individuals, Algoma Public Health operates a Needle Exchange and the Sault Community Health Centre has a clinic that is open Tuesdays and Thursdays) Downtown Ambassador Program (Provides street outreach in the downtown core and offers tourist information, harm reduction supplies. resources to those in need, referrals and assists businesses as needed) and Peer Navigators at Sault Area Hospital Emergency Department (Peer workers provide supports in the emergency department of the Sault Area Hospital from listening ear, information, referrals and advocacy while patients wait).
What a Peer Worker Does:
- Inspire hope for the future and model what is possible.
- Empower by honoring strengths.
- Recognize and further develop resiliency.
- Explore ways to support well-being (skills, resources, opportunities)
- Encourage a sense of personal responsibility.
- Help with voicing needs.
- Share and exchange knowledge (services, resources and experience)
- Assist to identify, plan and work on goals and aspirations.
- Promote self-care, self-awareness and self-esteem.
What a Peer Worker Does Not Do:
- Diagnose, use clinical terms or complete assessments.
- Judge past or current behavior.
- Give advice or tell a peer what to do/not do.
- Provide therapy, counselling or sponsorship.
- Manage medication or provide any related advice.
- Provide transportation or ask/do any favors.
- Provide daily or weekly ongoing check-in calls.
- Fulfill social needs.
- Become a personal friend during or after service.
The Peer Support Program understands the importance of also having unstructured, drop-in groups and spaces where informal peer-to-peer connections can be safely made, providing a sense of community and belonging.
Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma District
344 Queen Street East
Contact Access and Information 705-759-5989 or 1-855-366-1466
email: information@cmhassm.com
Iris Place – Wawa
Open Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
22 Broadway Avenue, Wawa
705-856-1894
irisplace@hotmail.com
Beehive- Elliot Lake
Open Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
118 Ontario Avenue, Elliot Lake
705-461-3912
mmcconnell_brenda@yahoo.com