Apply to be a Peer Support Ambassador Today!

Benefits of the program according to our previous training groups:

  • Learn to connect, and engage with those of similar age
  • Self-awareness
  • Understand the meaning & importance of Peer Support
  • Opportunity to gain further interpersonal skills & external personal skills (increase comfort level, communication skills, awareness into self & others, etc.)
  • Add this training to your resume!
  • Connecting over shared experiences can help others (sharing emotions, journeys, similar struggles)

  • Be able to help others feel less alone
  • Becoming a Youth Peer Support Ambassador allows for others to feel heard and valued, just by you listening to them.
  • Fulfilling 10 hours of volunteers hours: *Once trained, those currently in high school can receive peer support hours to be contributed to their volunteers’ hours required for high school graduation.
  • Upon completion of training: all those who attend this training will receive various swag items,  and certificate of completion of training.

Apply Here!

A Brief Introduction to Peer Support Training

Callout to our North Bay & Muskoka-Parry Sound Youth! Please share with YOUTH, colleagues, networks, family/friends and community members!

Lived Experience & Recovery Network (LERN) is offering a Youth Peer Support Training Program for youth ages 12-24 that reside in the districts of Nipissing or Muskoka-Parry Sound!

We are now accepting applications for our next in person 2-day training cohorts for:

  • November 30 & December 1, 2024 for youth 18-24. Training takes place at Homewood Suites in North Bay from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, each day.
  • February 1 & 2, 2025 for youth 18-24. Training takes place at Homewood Suites in North Bay from  9:00 am – 5:00 pm, each day.
  • February 6 & 7, 2025 for youth 12-18. Training takes place at  Lake Rosseau College in Rosseau from 9:00 am – 4:30 pm each day.
  • March 15 & 16 for youth 12-18 at Homewood Suites in North Bay. Training takes place at Homewood Suites in North Bay from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, each day.
  • Please note, this free YPST will wrap up at the end of March 2025, so for those that are interested in attending please join in a training date soon! It is mandatory for individuals to attend every single session of the training cohort.

For more information and to register, please see below.

 

In partnership with Centre for Innovation in Peer Support, Lived Experience & Recovery Network (LERN) is pleased to offer, Brief Introduction to Peer Support Training!

Do you have and/or know someone with lived experience within mental health and substance use, and want to share your support & connection amongst your peers? Please read further on how to join us to become a trained Peer Support Ambassador, in our Youth Peer Support Training program (ages 12 – 24)!

Program Requirements

If you are interested in attending this training, please complete the application form below (successful candidates will be contacted, please monitor your email (check Junk/Spam folders too).

Application can be submitted by:

    • Be between the ages of 12 – 18, or 18 – 24 (please see training opportunities below.
    • Live in the districts of Nipissing or Muskoka – Parry Sound
    • Attend ALL the training dates for either of the cohorts below:
      • November 30 & December 1, 2024 for ages 18-24 only. Must attend both full days in-person, 9:00am -5:00pm at Homewood Suites in North Bay.
      • February 1 & 2, 2025 for ages 18-24 only. Must attend both full days in-person, 9:00am -5:00pm at Homewood Suites in North Bay.
      • February 6 & 7, 2025 for ages 12 – 18 only. Must attend both full days in-person, 9:00am – 4:30pm at Rosseau Lake College in Rosseau.
      • March 15 & 16, 2025 for ages 12-18 only. Must attend both full days in-person, 9:00am -5:00pm at Homewood Suites in North Bay.
    • ALL training opportunities will be in person and registration is required.
    • Sign and respect the confidentiality form.
    • It is mandatory to attend every single session.

    Successful candidates will be contacted by email.
    Please monitor your email (junk/spam folders too).

 

Curriculum

Curriculum

This training consists of topics from Support House’s Peer Support: Brief Introduction to Peer Support Training:

  • Module 1 – Recovery, Wellness and the Peer Role
  • Module 2 – Foundations of Peer Support
  • Module 3 – Empathetic Communication
  • Module 4 – Connecting Through our Experiences
  • Module 5 – Ethically Navigating Boundaries
  • Module 6 – Culture, Diversity and Worldview
  • Module 7 – Supporting Someone Experiencing Distress/Crisis
  • Module 8 – Group Facilitation & Supportive Activities

An Ontario Trillium Foundation: Grow Grant Project

An Ontario Trillium Foundation: Grow Grant Project

This project funded by Ontario Trillium Foundation is a Peer Support Training Program, for youth (ages 12 – 24), along with an internship delivered to youth, with lived experience of mental health challenges and/or substance use problems.

This training program will empower youth to take on leadership roles within their peers’ communities, helping themselves and others in their own recovery & wellness. Once trained, these Youth Peer Supporters will be partnered with community agencies to offer peer support, completing their internship while also contributing to their volunteer hours required for graduation. As a result, this project will create meaningful engagement of youths within the community.

Did you know that less than 20% of children and youth in Canada receive appropriate treatment for mental illness? (Mental Health Commission of Canada) As suicide is heartbreakingly the second leading cause of death for Canadian youth aged 15 – 24, we must act now, as this is the time for peers to empower peers towards wellness and recovery.

Content Warning

Please note, some information discussed during this training may be sensitive information to you and/or others (i.e., talking about suicide, self-harm, crisis’, a variety of mental health & substance use discussions, abuse, individuals sharing their own lived experience(s), etc.).

We always encourage individuals to reach out to their supports, participate in self-care, and engage in discussion, if they are comfortable to do so.  Staff will also be available for individual Peer Support.

If you have any questions, or require further information, please reach out to Erin Russell and/or Kari Sterling.

Kari Sterling
Regional Director
Call: 705-840-1818
Email: rd@livedexperience.org

Erin Russell
Education & Support Coordinator
Call: 249-591-1467
Email: e.russell@livedexperience.org