Leveraging lived experience gaining work experience

Mentorship has become a critical foundation of support for youth and adults facing mental health and addiction challenges.

So often, “what we do” influences “who we are,” which is why studies show that meaningful work improves the quality of life. Unfortunately, people with mental illness and addiction issues can experience unique challenges re-entering the workforce and re-discovering that sense of dignity, independence, quality of life, and purpose.

Stride, a member of the MH&A Alliance, takes a person-centric approach to employment services. Unlike traditional employment services agencies, Stride champions mental health and addiction needs first and foremost through individualized programs, resources and connections to supportive employers.

This includes an Employment Peer Mentor Program to provide clients with hope and practical assistance as they progress toward recovery. Stride’s Employment Peer Mentors work as a member of the Employment Connections team to help alleviate stigma and foster healthier coping strategies, which leads to longer job retention.

Employment Peer Mentors offer clients flexibility in that support is offered at any stage of the client’s employment plan. This includes emotional support, assistance with following through on employment goals and action plans, advocating for individuals, helping establish employment networks, decreasing isolation of individuals and teaching interpersonal skills.

Mentorship has become a critical foundation of support for youth and adults facing mental health and addiction challenges. Employment Peer Mentors draw from their experiential knowledge—the happenings, emotions, and insights of their lived experience—as they listen to, interact with and support peers.

Critical aspects of hopefulness, recovery orientation, empowerment, non-judgmental acceptance, and trust are promoted within the peer support relationship. Employment Peer Mentors provide positive role models through support, guidance, mutual exchange, sharing of wisdom and coaching and offer support that can link to a broader and healthier support network.

The goal is to help reduce fears about working, instill confidence, improve motivation, and facilitate a more seamless experience with better employment outcomes. Peer support can be the most effective deliverer of ongoing information to support people with similar lived experiences in achieving their employment goals.

Employment Peer Mentors may assist their peers in identifying the type of job or career that fits their interests, strengths, and talents, develop coping strategies for work, build resiliency in place of those two and obtain the resources they need and want to achieve their job goals.

The role of the Employment Peer Mentor is to ‘walk alongside’ a peer exploring employment options using a person-directed approach; help to re-orient the lens of possibility, self-efficacy, and trust-in-self; normalize and help peers feel less alone with the Employment Peer Mentor relating personal challenges and successes at the right time to inspire hope. They foster a trusting, confidential, non-judgemental relationship where peers can openly share their challenges and struggles.

Stride has successfully provided employment support services for over 40 years. The agency’s services continue to assist in improving the employability and work readiness of individuals in the community. Last year, Stride provided 6,754 peer interactions so clients could receive the support they needed to navigate their journey toward recovery and improved mental well-being.

This remarkable level of engagement underscores the organization's unwavering commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of those they serve.