Could Two Hours of Peer Support Change Your Life?

I have been working as a peer support worker for over ten years, and most people do not know what we do and how we are able to empower people who have mental health issues to have a positive life in an extremely short period of time. Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and psychiatric nurses provide a crucial role in mental health recovery but they do not have the ability to support change like peer support workers can.

Understanding the principles, methodologies and strategies involved in peer support is analogous to understanding the expertise of other specialized fields. It requires training, insight and personal experience. The paradigm is simultaneously simple and complex. The results are extraordinary. Other mental health professionals seek to have their clients/patients suffer less and increase their ability to be functional. Peer support workers follow the lead of the people we work with and walk along side them in their mental health journey. We do not refer to them as patients or clients in peer support. They are our peers, participants or guests. Our practice is guided by peer support principles, our training and lived experience. This gives us the ability to create instant inspiration for hope, validation and connection in a way that promotes dignity and respect.

My first experience with peer support was in 2008. I was on the verge of losing another job because of a bipolar depressive episode. I had very little money and hardly any friends or social connection. My employer, along with other people in my life were frustrated with my low level of functioning and implied it was due to laziness. The professionals involved in my care treated me like a problem they needed to solve. I was alone, hopeless and done with life. I made a call to the Distress Centre, and they sent out the mobile response team to my apartment. They recommended that I go to a peer support group for people who have bipolar disorder. I hated support groups at the time but I decided to give it a try anyway.

I entered the warm, slightly dim lit boardroom at an urgent care facility in downtown Calgary, Canada. I flopped down in a chair and rested my head on my arms on the table. I was exhausted. My plan was to stay two hours and leave so I could tell people who were frustrated with me that I tried something to help myself. Everyone sat around the table save the two facilitators who were seated at the head. When the facilitators introduced themselves, I was surprised to hear that they also had bipolar disorder. Everyone took turns talking about how bipolar disorder was impacting their life and/or their lived experience with dealing with the illness. My head lifted up off the table. The facilitators used peer support strategies to make the space feel safe, promote connection and opportunities for us to learn from them and other members of the group.

When it was my turn, I felt hesitant to speak but the gentle invitation of one of the facilitators made me feel compelled to share. Nobody interrupted me, gave me advice, or treated me like a problem. Occasionally, someone would mention that they had been through similar challenges and how they got through it. There were people who were struggling just like I was and people who seemed to be enjoying their life and quite positive.

When the meeting ended, I felt completely different. When I went into the room, I was hopeless, alone and suicidal. When I left, I was part of a community, hopeful and found the will to live and start the process of becoming more optimistic. My life was completely different after this experience. My mood became more stable over longer stretches of time an I became more resilient and functional. I experienced a great deal of joy spending time with my peers who are clever, funny, compassionate and genuine. I don’t have to explain anything to them, they completely understand what I am going through so I can just be myself. I continue to struggle with the symptoms of bipolar disorder but peer support has changed how I live my life. It is as important as my medication.  

After attending the group for a few years, and receiving peer support training, I became one of the proficient group facilitators. I currently have two jobs. One as a peer support worker in a psychoeducation community program. In this job, I assist in teaching skills related to mental health topics and provide an element of peer support to our classes. The skills we teach improves the quality of our participants lives and the peer support transforms them.

My other job is at a short-stay residential suicide stabilization program called Calgary Respite House. We service guests who have had a recent suicide attempt or are at a high risk of dying by suicide and meet other criteria that makes them a fit for our program. The staff at the house are a mixture of peer support workers and mental health workers who have lived experience with dealing with suicide related issues or have family members who have struggled with similar problems. This fact alone makes our guests feel instantly comfortable and positive to the point where they are able to smile and potentially engage in humorous conversations after a couple of days.

The house has a clean, modern design that includes features that keep our guests safe. Each guest has their own room with a private washroom. The ample common areas have relaxing furniture, TV sets and throw blankets which contribute to the home-like feel of the house and makes our guests feel valued, comfortable and respected. During their stay, they receive peer support and are empowered to write a safety and a recovery plan for use when they are at risk in the future.

Peer support workers are starting to be added to community and medical mental health teams and programs. It is frustrating for me that there are not more positions for peer support workers. Trained peer support workers’ expertise and skills could be part of the solution to the huge need for mental health support in our society. Without peer support, there is a gap in the services available to people who struggle with their mental health.

Allan

P.S. I am sure many people will read this blog and think I am exaggerating about the impact peer support workers can have on the lives of people who are struggling with their mental health. If you have had your life change because of peer support or you are a peer support worker who has witnessed these types of changes please leave a comment below. If you wish to remain anonymous you can email me at allangeraldcooper@gmail.com and I can post your comments without your name.

If you are struggling with suicide related issues, please contact supports in your area.

Distress Centre Lines

Crisis Services Canada 1-833-456-4566

Lifeline (US) 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Befriends Worldwide (International)

Lifeline (Australia) 13-11-14