Hope – and our Peer Support Workers

“Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one’s life or the world at large. As a verb, its definitions include: “expect with confidence” and “to cherish a desire with anticipation.” Wikipedia

As a Peer Support Worker, working alongside my Participants is always a privilege to hear peoples stories. I have lived experience of poor mental health and managing that while living through difficult times but I don’t have all the answers.

This has taken me a while to realise that I can’t ‘fix’ people and often this is not what is being looked for.

Sharing hope with participants

If I can offer a safe, non-judgmental space to allow my Participants to explore their difficulties and some possible options I feel I can give them hope.

Some Participants have got jobs, some have gone on to training for the first time since school, and others have the confidence to explore choices they may have previously felt unable to such as applying for jobs or volunteering opportunities.

Walking alongside

In my time with the project I have ‘walked alongside’ over 100 Participants and we have grown together, and found hope together.