Peer Support Groups

Peer Support is about helping another person move on with their life – to recover.

This involves:

• Helping that person get in touch with what they think will improve their quality of life (setting recovery goals)
• Helping them to identify and remove  barriers
• Seeing their situation and circumstances differently:  With hope and self determination.
• Requires the establishment of a relationship.  A relationship is built on trust, even in the first few minutes of meeting.

A Peer is anyone you share a mutual experience with. That experience can include, but is not limited too, mental health or substance use diagnosis or symptoms, and involvement with mental health/addictions systems.

It is the act of people who have had similar experiences with a mental health and/or addiction issue giving each other encouragement, hope, assistance, guidance, and understanding that aids in recovery.

We have virtual and in-person peer support options!

Currently the majority of our groups are offered virtually (by telephone or video, depending on your preference).  Individual peer support is available in-person or virtually for those who access our group services.

All Self Help & Peer Support groups are open to adults living in Waterloo Wellington communities who identify as living with mental health or/and addiction issues. Participant’s can choose to attend any combination of drop-in and recovery learning groups.

NEW!  You can join the majority of our drop-in groups right away, using the connection details posted in the calendar with each groups description.

To join a recovery learning (enrolled) group or if group connection details are not included with a group’s description, or if you have questions, please email selfhelpgroup@cmhaww.ca

Program Calendars

NEW FORMAT for our November Calendar – Check it out!!

• December 2023 Virtual Self Help & Peer Support Calendar with Drop In Group Details
• NEW OPTION! – Screen Reader Accessible Format December 2023 Self Help & Peer Support Calendar
• November 2023 Virtual Self Help & Peer Support Calendar with Drop In Group Details
• NEW OPTION! – Screen Reader Accessible Format November Self Help & Peer Support Calendar

Group Highlight of the Month

• • Breathing with the Body – Join us as we sit and connect through breath work. Included in this group are gentle body movements, havening and breathing exercises that all help to heal and bring peace of mind.

Please Note: Groups are for adult residents of Waterloo-Wellington ONLY. Unfortunately, we cannot accept participants from outside of Waterloo Region, Guelph and Wellington County.

• Attending a Virtual Group
• What to Expect from Self Help & Peer Support Services
• Teams For Participants
• Values, Principles, and Ethics of Peer Support
• What is Peer Support?

About Our Groups

• Our services are open to any adults living in Waterloo Wellington communities.
• There is no intake and no wait list to join our drop-in groups! Find the connection details in the calendar grid with the group name and join in!
• All groups are run by trained peer supporters with lived experience of the group topic.
• **Note – in order to help us keep our services safe, comfortable spaces where people recover, we kindly ask those who visit us to follow our Code of Conduct.

Group Cancellations

In the event that we need to cancel a group session, we will post it to our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/selfhelppeersupport

We will also change our Group Cancellation line message at 1-844-CMHA WW3 (1-844-264-2993) ext. 4004.

If you have participated in Self Help & Peer Support services, we would love your anonymous feedback: https://forms.office.com/r/gFs6sw5hZG

Joining our virtual drop-in groups is easy!

Use the connection details in the calendar and join in! Questions? Email selfhelpgroup@cmhaww.ca