The Expert Within Promoting Mental Health Through Lived Experience
History of Peer Support Work in Canada Peer Support work in Canada is defined as a supportive relationship between people who have a lived experience in common. (Mental Health Commission of Canada) Peer support has always been around, and has always been valued. Similar examples: o Alcoholics Anonymous o Grandmothers o Recovery groups
History of Peer Support Work in Canada In May 2006 a final report was given to Canadian Senate. Leading this initiative were: The Hon. Michael J.L. Kirby (Chair) The Hon. Wilbert Joseph Keon (Deputy Chair) The document was called Out of The Shadows At Last and addressed transforming mental health, mental illness and addiction services in Canada.
History of Peer Support Work in Canada The focus is on wellness and not illness, on ability and not disability, on becoming at ease with one s limitations and not remaining diseased within one s limitations, on focusing on the beginning of the recovery process and not on remaining stagnant within one s misery. It is about gaining the energy to have choice once again and setting about to plant the seeds of choice to enable the consumer-survivor once more to feel alive. Joan Edwards-Karmazyn, Out Of The Shadows At Last
History of Peer Support Work in Canada In 2009 a document called Toward Recovery and Well-Being: A Framework for a Mental Health Strategy for Canada was released by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Prior to this undertaking, the Canadian mental health consumer demographic had very little voice. The following excerpt was taken from this report, in reference to breadth of this important research:
History of Peer Support Work in Canada All together, we collected over 475,000 words of commentary (the equivalent of over 1800 pages, or the unabridged edition of War and Peace). - Toward Recovery and Well-Being: A Framework for a Mental Health Strategy for Canada
History of Peer Support Work in Canada In May of 2012, the Mental Health strategy for Canada was produced. It was titled Changing Directions, Changing Lives. They found that one Canadian in five will experience a mental health problem or illness every year. Many don t seek and get the services and supports they need.
The Current Shift In The System Dr. William Anthony, director of the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University succinctly sums up the shift in many health systems by suggesting that: Instead of focusing on what is wrong we are beginning to focus on what is strong.
The Current Shift In The System Traditional beliefs regarding mental health center around the beliefs that: Recovery was not possible Patient would likely progressively worsen Now, a new shift towards recovery, resiliency and whole health. This is great news for mental health consumers in Canada!
The Value of Peer Support (Mental Health Commission, 2013) Peer support programs can help alleviate some of the pressure on Canada s strained healthcare system by: Reducing the need for hospitalization Reducing emotional distress experienced by patients. Help people develop the skills they need to take charge of their lives.
Six Gifts Peer Support Workers Bring A sense of gratitude that manifests in compassion and commitment. Insight into the experience of internalized stigma. Addresses the you don t know what it is like excuse. A unique position to develop a relationship of trust with their peers. Have developed the gift of monitoring their illness and managing their lives holistically.
Six Gifts Peer Support Workers Bring Peers have had the experience of moving from hopelessness to hope. When one lives without hope, when one has given up, the willingness to do is paralyzed. - Patricia Deegan
The Significance Of Peer Support Workers No one is better positioned to listen, affirm and to help the person see possibility than someone who has been there and come out the other side as a stronger person. The devastation and difficulties often resulting from a mental illness can be valuable assets as a peer uses their own experiences to help others who may be struggling with their recovery journeys.
The Significance Of Peer Support Workers May still struggle at times with symptoms, but they have moved forward from feelings of Disappointment Sorrow Shame Sense of Failure Resentment
The Significance Of Peer Support Workers They have a focus on the impact of the illness rather than the symptoms of the illness. People are often more willing to share real issues, concerns, hopes and dreams with a peer support worker because of this.
Peer Support Training What if we could offer specialized, relevant, non-clinical training to Peers as they move through their recovery to supporting others? in our mental health system our peer support groups wherever else there are mental health consumers
Peer Support Training by Prairies to Peaks Consulting The Core Recovery Curriculum: Recognize the difference between focusing on the symptoms of an illness and the impact of an illness. The basic structure of Alberta Health Services mental health services and how it works. The emerging Peer Support job description.
Peer Support Training by Prairies to Peaks Consulting The difference in services that focus on stabilization and those that focus on recovery. The meaning and role of peer support services. the difference in treatment goals and recovery goals. The basic five stages in the recovery process and what is helpful / not helpful at each stage.
Peer Support Training by Prairies to Peaks Consulting The role of peer support services at each stage of the recovery process. The basic definition /dynamics of recovery. The difference in an illness story and a recovery story. The difference in agency environments that promote recovery and those that do not.
Peer Support Training by Prairies to Peaks Consulting The place of Trauma Informed Services. The five steps in Igniting the Spark of Hope. The dynamics of power, conflict and integrity in the workplace. The three steps in the Process of Effective Communication. The five steps of PICBA as a problem solving process.
Peer Support Training by Prairies to Peaks Consulting With The Preceding Skills Peer Support Workers Should Be Able To: Use their own recovery experience to help a peer recover. Articulate what has been helpful/not helpful in their own recovery. Identify beliefs and values a peer holds that works against recovery. Discern when and how much of their recovery story to share.
Peer Support Training by Prairies to Peaks Consulting Be able to discuss their own tools for self-care. Facilitate a Recovery Dialogue. Use questions to help a peer get in touch with the life that they want. Use a person s dissatisfaction as an avenue to setting recovery goals. Use the PICBA problem solving process with a peer. Use questions to help a peer identify and move through their fears.
Peer Support Training by Prairies to Peaks Consulting Use the Catch it! Check it! Change it! process to help a peer combat negative self-talk. Use the Shared Decision Making process to help a peer prepare for a doctor s visit. Use the IMPACT process to help a peer set a recovery goal. Use the weekly action planning process to teach effective action planning. Teach peers to advocate for the services that they want. Help a peer create a Person Centered Plan.
Peer Support Training Graduate The CPS course gave me a framework and hands-on tools to think about peer support and how it should be when it has a recovery orientation. In addition to the tools, I found the discussions around trauma, fear, and ethics very valuable in helping me think about what it means to be a peer support specialist. This course also brought me to a new understanding of how I could use my own recovery story to help others something I hadn t expected. - Michele Longo, Testimonials Organizational Change Management Consultant
Peer Support Training Graduate Testimonials I suffered from severe, treatment resistant depression for many years. While the symptoms of the condition were horrible, the sense of powerlessness and loss that came with the diagnosis were almost worse. This is what certified peer specialists can help with. Certified peer specialists are equipped with standardized approaches and tools which help clients deal with the impact of the mental illness, not just the symptoms. The power comes from effective strategies shared by people who ve overcome similar challenges. - Dr. Magda Czegledi, Wellness Education Services Inc.
Next Training Session: OCTOBER 22-25, 2013 Location: Calgary Alberta Application Deadline: Sept 30, 2013 Applications available via email: brian.pugh.cps@gmail.com Tuition: $850 + GST Some financial assistance available...