December 19, 2022
Manitoba Government Announces Ongoing Funding for Peer Support Program
The Manitoba government will provide ongoing funding for the peer support program offered at the Crisis Response Centre in Winnipeg and the Dauphin Regional Health Centre, Mental Health and Community Wellness Minister Sarah Guillemard announced today.
“Our government recognizes that mental health and wellness are essential aspects of overall well-being, and we continue to take concrete steps to improve services that help Manitobans live their healthiest lives,” said Guillemard. “Throughout its two-year pilot, the peer support program for individuals and families demonstrated tremendous success and we will provide ongoing funding so it can continue.”
Peer Support Canada defines peer support as “emotional and practical support between two people who share a common experience, such as a mental health challenge or illness.” Peer support is rooted in core values, including self-determination, respect, hope and recovery, and empathetic and equal relationships. Staff offer support in person or virtually as well as one to one or in group settings.
Peer support programs use expertise of trained staff with lived experience to support individuals struggling with mental health and addictions issues, noted the minister, adding that the model is evidence-based, person-centred and recovery-oriented.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate the value of peer support alongside, yet distinct from, clinical services in crisis and acute care settings,” said Sean Miller, executive director, Peer Connections Manitoba. “The public demand and results have exceeded our expectations. This announcement is a great first step in expanding available support to individuals and families where and when it is needed most.”
The minister noted that the Manitoba government first issued a request for proposals for a community-based agency to deliver the peer support program in December 2019. The implementation of the peer support program met a recommendation in the VIRGO report and aligns with the strategic priorities of A Pathway to Mental Health and Community Wellness: A Roadmap for Manitoba.
For more information on the Manitoba government’s plans to create an integrated, responsive and accessible system that meets the needs of Manitobans, visit: https://gov.mb.ca/mh/docs/roadmap.pdf.
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