ABSTRACT
Peer support provides people who have experience in mental health with supportive relationships from those who have encountered their own, but similar, challenges. The Ontario Peer Development Initiative is a key resource for people either seeking to provide or receive peer support in the Province of Ontario. It is based on the central tenet that people can and do recover when proper supports are in place, and that peer support is one such resource integral to recovery. This chapter provides an overview of the spectrum of peer support models and highlights the publicly funded peer support resources available within London, Canada, and the surrounding Southwestern Ontario region. Using the example of CONNECT for Mental Health, tips for starting a peer support group are outlined.
