What we’re about
ThePeerConnection is a peer facilitated group for anyone (18+)* who has lived experience with mental health challenges. Our members endeavour, as a community, to build an empathetic, supportive, non-judgemental environment; one that allows us to share of ourselves, voice our experiences, and to offer peers an opportunity to relinquish emotional weight.
We meet at St-Joseph Health Centre, 30 The Queensway Toronto, Thursday at 7:00 PM in the conference-dining room.
*Given the nature of what is occasionally shared and discussed within our community, among other possible concerns, we cannot accommodate minors or children at our group. We apologize for any barrier this may cause to those in need of support.
GOALS:
To build a social environment that enriches the lives of its members through empathy and fostering a sense of community.
To bolster self care skills by creating opportunities to share individual skills and knowledge for peers to draw from.
To pool our individual knowledge of available resources for the community to access (which can be found here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WIMG1aMiTkWHHLJeIm8btFc7sy3zRDDOLW8xgfO0qP8/edit?usp=sharing )
To create space where expressing vulnerability can be done safely and amongst peers.
In order to accomplish these goals, we ask that members familiarize themselves with our community guidelines. These include, but are not limited to:
Confidentiality: All interactions at the Peer Connection support groups are completely confidential.
Mutual respect: Show others the respect you want them to show you. Be kind to one another. We’re all peers struggling with similar challenges. We believe each of us is expert in ourselves, our own condition and experiences. We Validate people’s experience and the insights they draw from them.
All-inclusive: The Peer Connection welcomes peers of all ethnicities, races, genders, sexualities, backgrounds. We are an anti-oppression safe space. We do not tolerate any kind of discrimination.
Peer support: The Peer Connection does not offer formal therapy; we are a peer support group. Peer Support embraces the the principles of respect, shared responsibility and reciprocity.
Peers only: To preserve the confidentiality and comfort of our members, solicitors and researchers will not be allowed to join this group.
For the full list of our community guidelines, please read them here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NF9ZAbfOYG1A_O5C0UPUeCB_piuJ6u8m/view?usp=drivesdk
***IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, FEELING SUICIDAL OR HAVE ANY KIND OF EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.***