Imagine having a mental illness. Coping with relationships, employment issues, and integrating with society may all seem like insurmountable hurdles – ones that others can’t understand. Hope may be on the way for some, thanks to a new peer support initiative being introduced at the Douglas.

This initiative, which is being introduced during peer-support week, will culminate in the launch of a new pilot-project of hiring a peer support helper. Peer support involves having trained individuals affected by mental health disorders help others by providing emotional and instrumental support to people with mental health problems.

“The concept of peer support is not new – it has also been used by the Alcoholics Anonymous for more than 60 years,” says program coordinator Nicole Lahaie. “These programs operate under the principle that those who have experienced and overcome an ailment are very effective at helping others do the same. This is an innovative way to look at mental health care.”

“This approach, was first applied in the United States and was developed to help people with serious psychiatric problems manage their own illness, contribute to society, and have meaningful lives, despite ongoing disabilities or symptoms,” adds Douglas researcher Myra Piat, PhD. “Great emphasis is placed on individuals’ rights to make meaningful choices and on encouraging society’s support of their goals. The approach also stresses that, with today’s improved medication, and better treatment approaches, recovery is possible—a fact supported in the scientific literature.”

As part of their Peer Support Week, the Douglas will be offering workshops mediated by Roy Muise, an activist and a peer specialist working for the Consumer Initiative Centre, in Dartmouth Nova Scotia. Roy was diagnosed with severe depression about 25 years ago and is now Certified Peer Specialist and helps himself by helping others cope with their challenges. On Thursday February 1, 2007, he will discuss the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), a personal tool that promotes growth, recovery and wellness. WRAP can be very powerful as individuals learn and develop their own road to recovery.

Following this special week, a Peer Helper will be hired through the pilot project and will conduct WRAP, educational and support sessions at the Wellington Centre of the Douglas. The Wellington Centre also offers numerous activities and programs, which include socio-professional, social reintegration, educational and adapted high school academic services, as well as job placement and employment support services.

“We feel it is important that our mental health system develops recovery-oriented services to accompany and support people in their recovery trajectory,” says Lahaie.