Peer Referral Program

“Peer support is a system of giving and receiving help founded on key principles of respect, shared responsibility, and mutual agreement of what is helpful. Peer support is not based on psychiatric models and diagnostic criteria. It is about understanding another’s situation empathically through the shared experience of emotion and psychological pain”   ​

The Peer Support Worker provides emotional and social support to others who share common experience in a safe environment. The commonality may not be in relation to a specific challenge or illness, but rather to the struggle and emotional pain that can accompany the feeling of loss and/or hopelessness due to mental illness. Each person is unique in their experience and their path towards recovery.​

Regardless of its setting, peer support is considered to have value either on its own or in a group setting or as a complement to clinical care. For some, peer support may bring all aspects of a person’s journey towards recovery into view. The peer support relationship may be the first step an individual takes to recovery, or it may be introduced years into a person’s journey towards wellness. Connecting with another person who has lived with similar problems, or is perhaps still doing so can be vital for someone struggling with their own situation.​

Peer support is rooted in the knowledge that “Hope is the starting point from which a journey of recovery must begin” Peer Support Workers can inspire hope and demonstrate the possibility of recovery. They are valued by there authenticity because they can relate to the challenge and have found their way to recovery. 

 Leadership Group