At Mental Health Awareness of Michiana, we recognize that everyone has unique ways of seeking help. That’s why we’re proud of our newest community support avenue – our Peer Support Specialist, La’Sierra Sharks!
Just what is a Peer Support Specialist? Peer supporters are people who use their experience of recovery from mental health disorders to support others in recovery. Peer specialists model recovery, teach skills and offer supports to help people experiencing mental health challenges lead meaningful lives in the community. Combined with skills often learned in formal training, their experience and institutional knowledge put them in a unique position to offer support. Peer support services have been shown to:
• Reduce symptoms and hospitalizations
• Increase social support and participation in the community
• Decrease lengths of hospital stays and costs of services
• Improve well-being, self-esteem and social functioning
• Encourage more thorough and longer-lasting recoveries
Why did Ms. Sharks pursue this type of work?
“I became a Peer Support Specialist to show my peers there’s hope for recovery!” she said. “I believe there is a genuine need for people to seek treatment, but they are hesitant due to not knowing where to start and not having the right support. I believe engaging with peer support is a positive outlet . . . I meet my peers where they are at because I’ve had some of the same struggles they have, so I UNDERSTAND. We can have these conversations they are fearful to have with others because there’s no judgment here.”
She continues,
“The best part of my job is I bring my authentic self to it. I’m able to share my lived experience with recovery to support and walk alongside my peers. I strive to help them by providing encouragement and guidance to overcome barriers. Before accepting this role, I had previous experience in the field as a mental health technician, and I love that I joined MHAM because of the organization’s awareness and acceptance of mental health issues in our community!”
Our Peer Support program is here to engage, support, and offer hope to community members who may have felt marginalized or hesitant about reaching out to traditional mental health services. They provide:
• One-on-one support: Personalized assistance tailored to individual needs.
• Goal setting: Helping you work towards and achieve your personal goals.
• Coping strategies: Developing healthy methods to manage life’s challenges.
• Community resources: Identifying and connecting you with local resources.
• Building relationships: Establishing connections with various providers and services.
Eligibility: Our support and referral services are available to anyone in Michiana who is struggling with their mental health. We prioritize services for pregnant and postpartum women, as well as applicants to the Pro Bono Counseling Project.
If you believe you’ll benefit from Peer Support, fill out this form so we can help determine your eligibility for services. For additional information, please contact us at peersupport@mhamichiana.org or call 574-393-8809, x 3. We’re here to help! Interested in becoming a Peer Support Specialist in your community? Check out this information from Mental Health America.
