CMHA Peer College

CMHA Edmonton Peer College is growing peer support in the community mental health and
addictions sector. We believe everyone with lived experience can benefit from connection to
peer support. Especially in the early days of recovery when it is vital for people to know they are
not alone and for them to see that recovery, wellness, and resilience is possible.

CMHA Edmonton Peer College is a centre for peer excellence in the areas of peer support
training, peer skills building, peer lead system navigation, and personal growth opportunities for
individuals and families with lived experience of mental health and addictions challenges. At
Peer College people with lived experience can learn and grow professionally and personally
through core training and electives.

Core Training

Peer support core training and electives are offered free of charge to people with lived
experience of a mental health or addictions challenge or concern. There are currently two
streams of core training being delivered:

1. The School of Peer Support is a nine-month course that delves into the fundamentals of
   peer support including such areas as supportive listening, boundaries, system
   navigation, etc. This course is delivered once each week over 93 hours of in-class
   training (from mid-October to late June) followed by a 50-hour practicum.
2. Radical Mental Health Peer Support course is a 15-hour course consisting of 6 modules that
   explore the fundamentals of peer support training and is offered multiple times each
   year.

Electives

Peer College is planning to offer electives training in the areas of: Peer Navigation, Practical
Supports, Hoarding, Indigenous Culture, Family Supports, and more. The electives training is
free and offered to those who are currently working in peer support roles or they have taken
core peer support training.

Connect with Peer Support Opportunities

Whether you are brand new to peer support or perhaps you are currently working in peer
support and you wish to explore some professional development opportunities CMHA Peer
College has a varied suite of learning opportunities for people with lived experience of a mental
health or addictions challenge.

Student Notes

• CMHA Peer College peer support students must have lived experience of a mental illness, mental health challenge, and / or addictions concern
• Students must be adults 18 and over
• All training is offered free of charge
• CMHA-ER welcomes diversity and celebrates difference
• Training offered in person at Prosper Place 10455-172 street unless otherwise indicated.
• Some training is offered online (see course descriptions)

Core Training

Elective Training

Contact

For more information or to register for a course or elective please contact:
Colin Simpson at csimpson@chma-edmonton.ab.ca

At CMHA-Edmonton Region, we acknowledge that we are on Treaty 6 territory, a traditional meeting ground, gathering place, and traveling route to the Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Métis, Dene, and Nakota Sioux. We honor the history and culture of the Indigenous peoples with whom we share this land. Our commitment to fostering strong relations with Indigenous communities is a core part of our identity as we work together toward mental wellness and healing.