By Iman Kaur
At Community Development Halton (CDH), we recognize the value of lived experience and the wisdom that peers can bring to the table.
"Peer" can be defined in many ways, but a common definition is someone at your level. When it comes to support, hearing from someone at your level can mean a world of difference to those who are navigating mental health concerns, grief, finding support in the queer community, and many other situations that life brings.
Recently, CDH hosted "Peer Support and the Voices of Lived Experience", an online gathering to highlight the voices of those who work in peer support and provide their expertise in lived experience, including navigating mental health, addiction, being unhoused, and other experiences.
We also value peer voices when it comes to research. Right now, CDH has several peer researchers exploring the challenges related to homelessness. It is so valuable to hear from the community members that experience these issues, and to be educated by them directly. Further, a team of youth researchers is also being recruited to explore the state of volunteering for youth in the City of Burlington. When it comes to research, involving the voices of peers is instrumental in learning about our community.
To acknowledge and spread the message of peer support, CDH has created a resource on different peer support services available in the Region of Halton."
The link to full resource can be found by clicking HERE
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