MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH: Let's Talk About It! (October 2024)

[Patches59]

@tyme @Ru-bee @Jynx 

what is the role of peer support and connection in terms of your mental health recovery?

when I read this the first thing that came to my mind was 4 E’s….. Empathy, Ear to honestly listen, Encouragement, Engagement.

during my time wth SANE I’ve made friends with people who have listened and encouraged me to keep going.  Wonderful people who have shown so much empathy.  Have met people with similar life experiences who have shared items from their past which has given me encouragement to keep going each day.

Peer support and connections are very important in my journey.  

Connections that have brought people into my life that I can comfortably talk with about mental health issues and how I am feeling, whether this be feeling good or struggling.

Through Peer Support and connections I don’t feel alone anymore.  No longer feel I’m the only person dealing with same mental health issues as myself.

[Glisten]

@tyme I think, I am on a journey to become a Bog Witch 🧙🏼 

G

[Shaz51]

Hello @Meowmy , @Clawde , @Cleo2 😊

[Oaktree]

@Patches59 

That’s such a good point. The peer connections that I have made here have alleviated a lot of my feelings of loneliness. I only wish that people would stay online later at night because I am in Western Australia 

[Glisten]

Sorry @tyme 6pm here in the West.

My brain 🧠 stopped reading before I got to the question.

What is the role of peer support and connection in terms of your mental health recovery?

The role of peer support and connection in terms of my mental health recovery, is that I need someone that has had the same experience as me and come out the other side.

Unless you have experienced narcissistic abuse, you cannot understand the residual damage.

G

[tyme]

Thank you for sharing @Glisten @Oaktree @Shaz51 @Patches59 🙂

Very remarkable. 

@Patches59 , I like how you termed it the 4 E's. I've never heard of that before.

@Oaktree @Glisten @Shaz51 , it's good to know it helps you feel less alone.

[Glisten]

@Oaktree I’m asleep by 8:30pm.

Most days I’m up between 4:30-6:30

[Oaktree]

@Glisten 

It’s all your fault that I am lonely at night then lol

[Glisten]

Absolutely @Oaktree because I am determined to make you go to sleep early lol

[Ainjoule]

What is the role of peer support and connection in terms of your mental health recovery?

I started attending the local SafeHaven a couple of years ago, and this is where I became aware of the benefits of peer support. I have attended that SafeHaven semi-regularly for a while to stay emotionally afloat. I appreciate talking to the the peer workers there because you can chat about issues without it being too clinical. After a while of going there, they started telling me about opportunities to get involved in advocacy. And in fact one of the flyers they gave me was for the SANE Peer Guide Program. I applied to the program and was accepted and I have been here ever since. I really enjoy hanging out with people on the forums. And the Peer Guide Program was amazing, I have gone from being unemployable to having a potential path for employment as a peer worker. I also started studying my Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work. And I have been applying for jobs. So the role of peer work has not only been integral to my recovery, it's also my potential future career.