Peer support services

Providence Health Care's peer support services connect patients with trained peers who offer emotional support, advocacy, and guidance based on their lived experiences.

Overview

At Providence Health Care, our peer support services can help you navigate your health journey. Many peers working in the program are former Providence patients. They may understand what it is like to experience:  

  • Structural inequity
  • Interpersonal racism
  • Trauma
  • Substance use
  • Poverty
  • Sex work
  • Physical or mental health challenges

Peers draw from their personal experiences to provide emotional support. They can advocate for you and help you find the resources you need. They also act as a bridge between you and your health care team.

What to expect

Each program where peer support services are available has its own system for connecting patients with peers.

Each peer program has different working hours. You may be offered support by more than one peer during your health care journey.

  • Peer Support Workers use their own experiences to help others with similar challenges. They create a sense of community and help people feel like they belong. They offer emotional support and teach ways to cope with challenges. They also encourage others to speak up for themselves and work toward recovery.
  • Peer Navigators use their lived experiences to help others. They teach people how to speak up for themselves and take an active role in their own health care. They help others navigate complicated systems, connect with helpful services, and make informed decisions about their care. They also give guidance and referrals for things like housing, income assistance, legal aid, and health care.

Support for Indigenous Peoples

The Indigenous Wellness Liaison Team is here to support your health journey. Team members offer cultural support and healthcare advocacy. Learn more below or call them at 604-682-2344,62937 or email IWL@providencehealth.bc.ca.

  • Indigenous wellness services

    The Indigenous Wellness Team at Providence is available to support Indigenous patients and their families. We are here to coordinate culturally safe wellness supports and services.

Education & resources

Useful resources

Find this service near you

Peers started working at Providence through partnerships with community organizations. In 2021, we launched our own peer support services program. Peers help in different programs and services across our hospitals and clinics, including:

Addiction Medicine Consult Team

This interdisciplinary, referral-based consultation service is at St. Paul’s Hospital. It supports clinicians and patients with substance use issues.

Emergency Department

These are located at St. Paul’s Hospital and Mount Saint Joseph’s Hospital.

Foundry

Foundry is a province-wide network of integrated health and wellness services. It is for young people ages 12–24.

Indigenous wellness supports

Providence has a team of Indigenous Wellness Liaisons. This team supports patients who identify as Indigenous and their family members. The team members are Indigenous themselves.

John Ruedy Clinic

The John Ruedy Clinic offers multidisciplinary primary health services for people living with HIV. The clinic provides care for those who may be underserved in health care and benefit most from wrap-around services.

Overdose Prevention Site

The Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) provides a nonjudgmental place for patients to use nonprescription (illicit) substances. The site offers injection booths and a dedicated space for inhalation. It also has a variety of harm reduction services. All of these peers are trained in advanced overdose management techniques. This includes use of naloxone and oxygen. They can also assist with overdoses in the outdoor space.

Rapid Access Addiction Clinic

The Rapid Access Addiction Clinic (RAAC) is a low-barrier outpatient clinic. It provides consultation and stabilization for people with substance use disorder. It also helps people with reliance—including alcohol, stimulant and opiate use disorders.

Road to Recovery

The Road to Recovery initiative strives to better address treatment of substance use issues. It provides the right support to each client at the right time. Services include detox beds and transitional care beds. The team also provides outreach aftercare in the community.

News & stories