Peer Supporters and Group Facilitators

Chris is a peer support worker from Dartmouth. He has been helping out SSNS for almost two years. He facilitates support groups and meets with peers who have mental heath issues. Chris has schizophrenia, and while he still has residual symptoms, he has learned to live with them. Chris enjoys arts and crafts, video games, and sometimes writing computer programs.

I am Psychology student with lived mental health experience. I have peer support and other related training. I currently co facilitate From Recovery to Discovery with SSNS and a Bi Polar Peer Support group at the QE2 hospital. I have worked previously with the Canadian Mental Health Association in the Annapolis Valley while also studying at Acadia University. I also had the opportunity to sit in on the Schizophrenia Society’s Annapolis Valley Chapter board.

When Lesley’s not studying for her Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology she is engaged in Mental Health advocacy and peer support work with the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia.  She has lived experience with addiction and schizophrenia.  When she’s not engaged in mental health activities, she is out enjoying the outdoors with her dog Shiloh.

“I’m a neurodivergent artist who currently lives in Kijpuktuk (Halifax). Although I’m new to Hope for Mental Health team, I’ve been doing peer support informally for a long time and have a lot of experience with the mental health system. When I’m not providing peer support, I can be found making art and crafts, spending time with my family, friends, eating snacks and learning new skills. I also enjoy being physically active, my favourite forms of movement are yoga, Pilates, spin, and dancing.