Frances Skerritt is one of the Douglas Institute’s first peer helpers*. In Spring 2007, she was hired by the Wellington Centre to help their clients achieve and maintain recovery**.

“We Speak the Same Language”

Frances works ten hours per week, dedicating herself to the well-being of Wellington Centre clients. She has taken training to help clients create and implement individual recovery plans***. She also helps to organize peer-support activities such as guest speaker events, and participates in the Wellington Centre’s “Pont Committee”, where clients and staff jointly meet to discuss the development and organization of recovery-oriented services. Her wages are being paid by the Douglas Foundation until Spring 2008, at which time the project will be re-assessed.

In Frances’ view, flexibility is key, “If a client wants to meet me on a certain day and time, I do my very best to be available. They seem to trust me and enjoy having me help them in their recovery. It’s because I know what they’re going through. We speak the same language.”

She adds, “I’m proud to be part of this project—one of Quebec’s first peer helper initiatives in a psychiatric institution.”

Her enthusiasm is mirrored by Wellington Centre coordinator Nicole Lahaie, “Frances brings added value to services offered by the centre. She’s a wonderful example of what can be achieved when we incorporate peer helpers into our services. Her work falls nicely in line with the Douglas’ strategic plan, which sets recovery as a primary goal.”

* Peer helpers are people who have recovered from mental illness; they use their experience and people skills to help others achieve this goal. Part of a multidisciplinary team, they work with staff, attend meetings, and receive a salary. This new and exciting approach is growing in popularity across Quebec and throughout Canada.

** The concept of recovery rose in relation to the disability rights movement in the United States. It proposes that the vast majority of people with serious psychiatric problems can manage their own illness, contribute to society, and enjoy meaningful lives, despite ongoing disabilities or symptoms. Emphasis is placed on an individual’s right to make meaningful choices, and encouraging society’s support of those goals.

*** Individual recovery plan: A client’s personal plan to achieve goals designed to promote recovery. Goals could include being punctual, moving away from negative thinking, trying something new, moving past limitations that others place on them, taking training, etc.