Two non-profit agencies have come together to offer a new program that will help people in Haliburton County with substance use and mental health challenges by pairing them with others who have lived experience.
Point in Time and the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) officially launched “Coming Full Circle” on Tuesday (November 4) at the program’s location at 83 Maple Avenue in Haliburton.
The event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, remarks from project leaders and dignitaries, guided tours of the community space, opportunities to meet peer support workers, and information about support services.
Funded by Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program, Coming Full Circle is a two-year initiative designed to help people with mental health and addiction challenges by building a network of trained and mentored peer support workers who have walked in their shoes.
“Coming Full Circle is a program staffed entirely by six peer specialists with lived and living experience of substance use, addictions, and mental health (challenges),” program supervisor David Barkley of CMHA HKPR told kawarthaNOW.
“They are people who know firsthand what it’s like to face those challenges in Haliburton County. The peers are fostering a safe and judgement/stigma-free space for authentic connection, understanding, and support.”
Along with CMHA HKPR and Point in Time, which offers a wide range of supports and services to children, youth, and families in Haliburton County, Coming Full Circle is supported by the Haliburton County Connections Committee (formerly the Haliburton County Mental Health and Substance Use Working Group).
In a media release, Barkley said the program represents a new approach to care, as peer support workers with lived experience understand the barriers and challenges that people face.
“That authenticity helps build trust and makes it easier to navigate the tough realities that can come with living in smaller, rural communities,” he added.
The name of the program reflects that it not only supports people with substance use and mental health challenges, but also employs people who have lived experience with the same challenges.
“Peer support workers offer a unique and invaluable perspective, fostering trust, empathy, and connection in ways that traditional services often cannot,” the media release noted.
“By centering peer support in this initiative, Coming Full Circle not only creates employment opportunities, but also strengthens the fabric of community care.”
Barkley told kawarthaNOW he hopes the program will bridge the gaps in service for people in the community who are underserved while also breaking down barriers to support.
“We want to help as many people who are facing challenges around substance use and addiction in Haliburton County as possible,” he said. “But, ultimately, if we can assist just one person by listening, supporting, or helping them with their goals or needs, it’s a success.”
For more information about the program, email Barkley at dbarkley@cmhahkpr.ca.
