Peer Support Program

Life is a journey and so is Recovery. Share your path and be a role model to those that have just started on their own.

Due to shared experience of receiving mental health services and working toward mental wellness, Peer Specialists are able to serve as mentors, providing support, encouragement, information and above all, hope. Mecklenburg’s PROMISE peer program works with people transitioning from an inpatient setting into the community, as well as those who are already in the community and are looking for an advocate, role model, and mentor. Peer Support Specialists receive special training (Recovery Model Training, WRAP Training, and mentoring hours) and/or certification (Peer Support Specialist Certification, WRAP facilitator certification) which provide them with tools to help themselves and others in their recovery process.

Peer Specialists are living recovery and therefore can relate to many of the experiences and challenges that their peers may be confronting. Through their shared experiences they have an understanding of each other and are able to create a mutually supportive relationship that is based on trust and respect. Through this special relationship, individuals learn that though their illness is a part of their life, their life is not their illness.

The role of a Peer Specialist is not clinical in nature; however, they are more than just friends. Peer Specialists assist their peers in linking to services and supports in the community by teaching wellness management skills, independent living skills, social skills, and coping skills. Peer Specialists can work with community professionals to identify individuals who can benefit from and are interested in peer support, as well as individuals themselves who identify peer support as a need.

Interested in becoming a Peer Specialist? Ask yourself these questions:
• Do you believe mental health RECOVERY is possible?
• Can you be a role model of RECOVERY?
• Can you provide hope, encouragement and support to an individual who has just begun their journey of RECOVERY?
• Could you help others to help themselves?
• Would you be willing to share with others the tools of RECOVERY which have been helpful to you?
• Could you benefit in your own RECOVERY process by giving back to others and sharing your RECOVERY experiences?

I WANT TO VOLUNTEER! If you believe you can serve as a mentor, role model, advocate, teacher and positive example of an individual living in recovery, call Mecklenburg’s PROMISE today at 980-321-4021

I WANT TO BE MATCHED!