Peer Support Services

The Peer Support Program is a peer led community based social support service.  Trained volunteers offer emotional and practical support and connection between people who share common experiences.  Peer support provides a variety of free and confidential services, including support and education, one-on-one social activity, hospital visitation, advocacy, and leadership training.

Our volunteers have the unique understanding of lived experience with a mental health diagnosis or concern and are trained to offer support, friendship, hope and understanding to their peers in the mental health community.  Through interaction with their peers, they seek to foster:

• empowerment through meaningful volunteer opportunities
• awareness of resources in the community
• independence by emphasizing recovery and by being positive role models
• social connections to others and the community

Peer Volunteers with the Hospital Program visit the VJH Mental Health Ward to provide hope, encouragement and information about the services provided by the Peer Support Program.  Volunteers can help to address concerns people with a mental illness might have through their knowledge of the rights of people who are hospitalized, the Mental Health Act, and issues affecting day-to-day living of people coping with a mental illness.

Contact Peer Support Program

Phone: (250) 542-6155
E-mail:  [email protected]

Care to Speak

Care to Speak offers individuals working in the Healthcare and Social Services sectors a safe space to talk. You will be connected with a trained peer supporter who has worked in front-line healthcare or the social services sector – someone who understands your challenges and stresses  

Support is available through online chat, text message, and telephone to help you through any tough times you might be experiencing. You will be reaching out to volunteers with experience in healthcare or the social services field, that are trained to provide virtual support and refer you to additional resources if you need them.  

The Care to Speak program is here to help through the tough times. Our volunteers understand the pressures of the job and have experienced similar struggles. We know sometimes it is not easy to talk about certain things with coworkers, family members, or friends, but Care to Speak is a safe space to share how you are feeling. All our support is confidential and delivered without judgment.  

We are not designed to be in stress mode all the time. When our stress-response system gets overworked, we are at increased risk of experiencing physical and mental health problems. These are unprecedented times. Know that you are not alone, and that help is available. All of our support is confidential and delivered without judgment.  

If you work in healthcare or social services, your mental health is a priority. Call, text, or chat online to get the support you deserve.  

Call or Text: 1-866-802-7337 (PEER) 
Chat online at caretospeak.ca 
Available Monday-Friday 9am – 9pm PST  

For more information or to connect with a peer supporter, click here  

Are you interested in becoming a volunteer? Click here to learn more about this volunteer opportunity and other opportunities.

Good Morning Program

“Offering people a safer independence”

The Good Morning Program is a free telephone service for seniors or people with high health risks, who live alone or feel isolated in the community. The program enables these individuals to remain living independently longer by providing a daily phone call to ensure participants are safe. Phone calls are made seven days a week 365 days a year by trained volunteers. Participants can be referred by care providers, family, friends or self-referrals can be made.  

Each call is a non-intrusive, non-judgmental safety check that provides some social interaction. We listen, provide support and offer referrals when needed.

The program is free of charge and available to people living in Vernon and surrounding areas.

If you or someone you know might benefit from this service, please call our program office at 250.542.3114 for more information.  To get started, please complete our program referral form.

Are you interested in becoming a volunteer? Click here to learn more about this volunteer opportunity and other opportunities.

Program Staff

Jessica Both – Good Morning Program Coordinator; [email protected]

Good Morning Program Referral Form