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Peer Specialists: Working with People With Lived Experience of Homelessness & Mental Health Issues
Mental Health Commission of Canada
Presented by:Heather Gilmore
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Presentation overview• Personal Introduction• Who Peer Specialists Are• Core Values• Recovery• Peer Specific Roles• Integrating Peers• What Works Well• Concluding Remarks
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Peer Specialists Are:
People with lived experience of mental illness and/or homelessness who:
• have the ability and willingness to use their experience to inform their work with others
• have the ability and willingness to support the unique journey of others
• understand that the relationship with others helps them move forward on their own journey
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Peer Specialists Are (Cont’d):
People with lived experience of mental illness and/or homelessness who:
• understand that self disclosure breaks down barriers• know how to advocate for the development of
recovery/wellness strategies• can model inclusion in the community
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They have the ability to walk alongside because they have been there.
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Core Values of Peer Specialist Work•Respect and compassion•Shared responsibility, & mutual agreement of what constitutes help•Breaking down of the ‘expert/service user’ divide which allows for ‘being,’ creating mutual validation•Working with people where they are at, and recognizing what has value and meaning to them•Belief that change is possibleAnd…
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Hope…
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Recovery and the Role of Peer Specialists
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Peer-Specific Roles • Consultants• Outreach workers• Researchers• Evaluators• Trainers • Members of your Board of Directors
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You can also make room for peers to develop their own circles.
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Integrating Peer Specialists • Consider the difference of coming to the job in a peer
specialist role• Think about who your program serves and find peer
specialists who represent that diversity• Fully integrate peer specialists as full-time regular staff• Ensure that they fulfill a generalist role as well as specialist
functions as a peer• Recognize power, cultural safety, and the need for a safe
organizational environment
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What Works Well
• Organizational value of the peer specialist role• Commitment to a recovery based model of care• Willingness to engage in the difficult on-going
discussions about stigma, power, privilege, discrimination, racism, sexism, homophobia …
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Concluding Remarks:• Plan for Peer Specialist engagement at the
beginning of a project, and do that planning with peers
• Ensure the organizational environment is ready, and if not, question why!
• Recognize and negotiate power differentials
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• There are a number of organizations in the Lower Mainland that have already integrated peers in their programs…call and ask questions if you need to. They love to talk!
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Thank you Contact us: [email protected]: www.mentalhealthcommission.caFollow us:
The views represented herein solely represent the views of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.Production of this document is made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada.
Les opinions exprimées aux présentes sont celles de la Commission de la santé mentale du Canada.La production de ce document a été rendue possible grâce à la contribution financière de Santé Canada.
