CMHA Peer College

Interested in learning to become a Peer Support Worker and learning how to use your “lived experience” to support others in the Community in their “journey” towards mental wellness?

There is no fee for the training for anyone who has “lived experience” with mental wellness or substance use challenges, or for those with the “lived experience” of supporting those who have been impacted by these challenges. This can include experience supporting Community Members, Co-Workers, Family Members, and Friends.

About CMHA Edmonton’s Peer College

• We opened our doors in August of 2024.
• Our mission is to provide education and training for Community Members who are interested in learning about Peer Support Work, or becoming, Peer Support Workers in our Community.
• We currently offer 2 options for Core Peer Support training and offer electives as additional training options to build on the skills and tools covered in the Core Peer Support training.

Core Training 

1. Radical Mental Health Peer Support training: This course consists of 12-hours of introductory training and includes 6 modules that focus on the basics of Peer Support. Training is offered in-person, and online, and a certificate is issued once the training has been completed.

• The curriculum for this course was developed by the University of Calgary.
• Courses are scheduled at regular intervals
• Updated information on course availability will be posted on our website starting in September of 2025
• Training is free

2. The School of Peer Support: For those interested in building on the skills they learned while taking the Radical Mental Health Peer Support, or in more in-depth training, this course may be for you.

This course focuses on harnessing our “lived experience” and the qualities and strengths of wisdom, resilience, knowledge, and hope as tools to support our Community Members in their unique and individual “journeys” towards improved mental wellness.

What’s involved? The course focuses on the fundamentals of Peer Support and explores the components required to work in the field of Peer Support. It consists of 93-hours of classroom training (Online via Zoom), followed by a 50-hour practicum placement where you can learn how to put what you have learned into practice!

• The curriculum for this course was developed by the CMHA Calgary and is aligned with Peer Support Canada’s certification process.
  • https://pscportal.ca/   
• Our next course starts in October 2025 and finishes in June 2026.
• If you have questions or are interested in taking part in either of these courses,  please email us at: edmontonpeercollege@cmha-edmonton.ab.ca.
• We are accepting indications of interest and applications until August 31.

Electives

We are planning to offer elective training in the following areas: Peer Navigation, Practical
Supports, and Hoarding, and we will be working to develop and offer additional electives to compliment the Core Training. Stay tuned for updates.

This additional training is also free for those who have taken the Core Training.

Participant Information

• CMHA Edmonton Peer College participants must have “lived experience” with mental wellness or substance use challenges, or for those with the “lived experience” of supporting those who have been impacted by these challenges. This can include experience supporting Community Members, Co-Workers, Family Members, and Friends.
• Must be adults 18 and over.
• Training is offered free of charge.
• CMHA-ER welcomes diversity and celebrates difference
• Training is offered in-person and online.
  • More information will be provided when the course schedules are published in September 2025.

Please join us and start your journey to peer support work!

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.