What is peer facilitation/peer support?
Peer support is the practical, social and emotional support between people in a community of common interest. Peer support is unique, as it offers the kind of support and practical help that one can only get from others who share similar experiences. There is no “one size fits all” approach to peer support around the world, but it can be done one-to-one or in groups, in person, by telephone, or online.
The philosophy of peer support is that each individual has within themselves the knowledge of what is best for them and a strong desire to find a path towards improved health. The peer facilitator supports that person as they search for that inner knowledge and re-ignites that desire for change and improvement. Peer support is based on relationships in which each person is considered equal within the relationship and self-determination is highly respected, and is focused on health and wellness rather than illness and disability.
Why peer facilitation/support works
Peer facilitation/support is grounded in the belief that hope and support are the starting place to enhance well-being. Although everyone’s journey is unique, peer facilitators can inspire hope, promote a sense of inclusion and belonging, and demonstrate the possibility of well-being while relating to the challenges and stigma attached to their experiences.
Our Circle of Balance Program
Our Circle of Balance program developed from our mandate to prevent gender-based violence and improve mental health in Indigenous communities in Newfoundland and Labrador with the understanding that Indigenous communities need more than the Western model of medicine that often neglects to consider the effects of generational trauma on mental health and the cycle of abuse, as well as the lack of mental health and domestic violence resources within these communities.
Our flagship program approaches mental health and gender-based violence from a cultural lens, using cultural knowledge, rituals, and practices to train community leaders to support women in their communities living in domestic violence situations or experiencing mental health challenges.
Our workshops, events, and wellness series have been developed through collaboration with elders and experts in the field and provides community leaders. Our Circle of Balance Peer Facilitators are given the tools and knowledge to conduct culturally-based workshops that create a safe space to start a dialogue about gender-based violence and mental health, and offer support.
Circle of Balance Program
Facts
In 2020, 22% of female homicides in Canada were Indigenous women (The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres).
Indigenous women are 44% more likely to experience some form of intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts (The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres).
Most Indigenous women and girls were killed by someone that they knew (81%), including an intimate partner (35%), acquaintance (24%), or family member (22%) (Statistics Canada).
Indigenous 2SLGBTQQIA+ women are 86% more likely to experience IPV compared to non-LGBTQQIA+ Indigenous women (The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres).
Indigenous 2SLGBTQQIA+ women are 5 times more likely to experience a partner revealed, or threaten, to reveal their gender/sexual identity (The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres).
Applications
Our Circle of Balance Training Program is currently undergoing revision to improve our outreach and vetting process.