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Self Help & Peer Support

Volunteer

Volunteer Program

The Self Help & Peer Support Volunteer Program is an opportunity for those who identify with a lived experience of mental health and/or addiction issues to gain skills and experience in a variety of areas.

The Self Help & Peer Support Volunteer Program provides skill development opportunities and hands-on experience, enhancing the individual’s quality of life, enriching their experience, and leading to valuable, future community volunteer connections while engaging in their own recovery process.

Our efforts involve recruiting and involving people with lived experience to provide leadership in the service’s activities. We work to ensure that all volunteer roles are clearly defined, safe, rewarding, and valued with Self Help & Peer Support and the CMHA WW organization. We seek opportunities for volunteers to grow in their roles and responsibilities according to their interests and the needs of the service.

Volunteer roles include:

Volunteer requirements

  • Must identify with a lived experience of a mental health and/or addiction issue.
  • Enrolled with and attending Self Help & Peer Support services.
  • Attend peer and recovery support groups prior to applying for a volunteer group facilitator position.
  • Good understanding of the values of peer support.
  • Good understanding of the principles and values of Self Help and CMHA WW services.
  • Ability to commit to one year (minimum) of volunteering a minimum of 5 – 6 hours a month.
  • Complete a volunteer application form.
  • Attend an interview with Self Help & Peer Support staff.
  • Provide 2-3 character and/or work related references.
  • Provide an acceptable Vulnerable Sector Police Check. 
  • Demonstrate the appropriate skill set required for each volunteer position (ex. communication skills, conflict resolution).
  • Attend ongoing volunteer training and coaching.

Service standards

  • Volunteers are responsible for supporting the goals, values and principles of Self Help & Peer Support’s service and the mission and vision of the CMHA WW organization including a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and the reduction of stigma and discrimination of people living with addiction and/or mental health issues. 
  • Furthermore, they are responsible for respecting their commitment to the service and for performing their duties to the best of their abilities.

Regular volunteer meetings

  • Regular volunteer meetings will be held monthly and will be attended by a volunteer supervisor and Self Help & Peer Support service volunteers.
  • This meeting will encourage and exchange thoughts, concerns and ideas about how we provide peer support, and relay any service and program information required by volunteers to carry out their roles.
  • Volunteers are required to attend all volunteer trainings unless they have made arrangement with the volunteer supervisor and have given satisfactory explanation for doing so.

Mandatory trainings involved:

  • Mental Health and Substance Use Peer Support Training 
  • Privacy & Confidentiality
  • Navigating the Topic of Suicide in a Peer Group
  • Understanding Gender Identity & Sexual Orientation
  • Trauma Informed Peer Support
  • Communication
  • Conflict Resolution
  • De-escalation Skills
  • Boundaries
  • Diversity, Inclusion, Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression, and Understanding Bias
  • Self-Care

*All training is provided by Self Help & Peer Support.

For more information, please contact:

Self Help & Peer Support sites

Kitchener:     67 King Street East      T:    519.570.4595
Cambridge:  9 Wellington Street  T:    519.623.6024
Guelph:       Main Level – 147 Wyndham St. N.  T:    519.763.4014

Spark of Brilliance Volunteers

Spark of Brilliance is always looking for volunteers to lead expressive arts workshops in Kitchener and Guelph. Please contact Marcey for more information.