The Mental Health Foundation (ACT) runs a Peer Support Service (PSS) for people who live with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and anorexia. The concept of peer support is relatively new - and has been operating successfully in the ACT – for the mental health sector.
The PSS is unique, in that peers - who live with the same mental illness - are trained to deliver a service that helps others in their own community. The service encompasses the individual, their personality, needs, life situation and illness. It not only helps the person accessing the service, but also develops and provides new opportunities for the peer supporter and greatly values the lived experience of mental illness.
The service creates a sense of community and engagement for people, who may otherwise feel isolated and alone, as they may feel that other people do not understand their experiences. Peer support inspires people for the better.
The service is delivered one-on-one, or within a group setting and is therefore flexible and responsive to individual needs. People who use the service may ask for information on government and community services, may simply want to chat about their concerns or to understand and grow from hearing another person’s perspective.
Call 02 6282 6658, or email info@mhf.org.au, for more information about the Peer Support Program.