Community Highlight | ICMHA’s Peer Support Programs
Peer Support happens when people share a life experience such as substance use or mental health challenges and provide each other support, encouragement and information about various resources.
Today we’ve talked to Lorraine Johnson who is a Peer Support Worker at Island Community Mental Health (ICMH) about her experience in this work as well as the Peer Supported programs at ICMHA.
Hi Lorraine. What led you to become a peer support worker?
After a year and half as a client of ICMHA I found the groups to be a very important part of my recovery. The clinical help I received was great but I really believe that it was being with people who understood me that made all the difference. Being able to talk without feeling judged or ridiculed, having support when I was having a bad day, these were things I had never had before. When I found out about the program I knew it was something I had to do.
What program or group do you lead at ICMHA? Tell us a bit about it?
I run the cooking club, we prepare a delicious, low budget meal. Then we sit down to eat and enjoy some social time. Oh, and there's always leftovers for taking home too.
I also co-facilitate SIT AND CHAT. This is a new group that will take over for talk and step during the winter months. Get together for warm drinks, snacks and easy conversation.
I also facilitate the PEER SUPPORT STUDY GROUP, where people can get support while working on the peer support worker certificate from BC CAMPUS. And this is something I think everyone should actually take, the insight I gained into my own mental health was inspiring!
What day of week/time is your program? How can people access it?
Cooking Club runs on Wednesdays from 12-2/2:30 depending on how long the recipe takes. Peer support study group runs Friday from 11:00-12:30. Sit and chat runs also on Friday from 1:30-2:30.
You can get in touch with ICMH and we will try to get you into the groups you are interested in.
What is your favorite part of peer support and/or the program you run?
My favourite part is just being with people, which I cant believe I'm actually saying! But everyone I've met or worked with throughout my time at ICMH has been absolutely marvellous and having access to a wonderful kitchen and being able to share my love of cooking and baking is an incredible bonus.
Do you have any thoughts on the future of peer support? Where is it going or where you'd like to see it go?
Wow. I hope it continues to grow and flourish, I just can't imagine recovery without it. Clinical help only goes so far. We need to be supported by people who understand the challenges we face first hand. Only peer support can do that.
