What is Peer Support?
Peer support is non-clinical support grounded in shared lived experience of mental health and/or substance use.
Peer support workers use their own experiences to build authentic, empathetic connections and offer support rooted in hope, understanding, and mutuality. Rather than giving advice or treatment, peer support focuses on walking alongside individuals as they identify what helps them move forward.
Peer support is person-centred and based on self-determination, dignity, and respect. Individuals are supported to make their own choices at their own pace.
Benefits of Peer Support
Peer support helps reduce stigma and build connection by creating space for people to share and feel understood.
It complements clinical care by providing connection, understanding, and practical support grounded in lived experience.
Peer support promotes hope, empowerment, and meaningful progress in recovery.
Research shows that peer support is associated with:
Reduction in hospitalizations for mental health
Reduction in symptom distress
(Cyr, Mckee, O'Hagan, Priest, (2016). "Making the Case for Peer Support", Mental Health Commission of Canada)
What We Do
We provide peer support grounded in lived experience, offering compassionate, non-judgmental support that meets people where they’re at.
Peer support is available through brief, time limited one-on-one conversations with NISA peer support workers. These informal connections provide a space to share experiences, explore wellness, and receive support from someone with lived experience.
We also deliver peer support directly in the community, including the emergency department, addictions medicine unit, LOTUS program, HART Hub, and CMHA supportive living environments. In these spaces, we provide immediate support during critical moments, build ongoing connections, and help individuals navigate topics such as recovery, housing, and wellness.
Across all settings, our focus is on reducing barriers, building trust, and ensuring people feel supported and connected.
