What is “Peer Support”?
The role of peer support workers is very special —and very unique— in promoting and supporting the recovery process. Peer support workers are members of the staff who, in the course of their work, openly acknowledge that they currently live, or have previously lived, with a mental illness or an addiction. The purpose of using their recovery journey is to inspire hope, act as a role model and a source of motivation and inspiration, and support and help educate those living in situations similar to the ones being shared.
Many peer support workers have managed to overcome the obstacles associated with stigma and poverty. They found their way and found dignity in living their lives. Thanks to the wealth of their experience, peer support workers can share their hope and knowledge. Peer support workers can offer peers an authentic connection and a bond of trust. Their mere presence can inspire hope… and hope is the catalyst to recovery.
Peer interventions come from an entirely different culture than the one promoted by the mental healthcare network. The guiding principles of peer support are respect, shared responsibility, and mutual understanding. Peer interventions promote respectful, empathetic, trusting, and kind-hearted dynamics. They help peers reclaim their power towards achieving the changes they want to make and take charge in the pursuit of their goals.
Community Peer Support Workers
CMHA of NB’s Community Peer Support program helps people living with addiction and/or mental illness to receive emotional and practical support from someone who has their own lived experiences and is trained to support others.
Peer Support Workers help people to develop goals, create strategies for self-empowerment, and take concrete steps to build fulfilling, self-determined lives. Peer support sessions are offered as one-on-one appointments and/or group programs.
The Community Peer Support Worker program is available at no cost and you can self-refer by contacting us directly. Please note you must be 16+ to engage with this service.
Peer Support is a non-clinical service which does not replace traditional or therapeutic supports. The Community Peer Support program is not a crisis service.
For crisis support, please contact:
Free provincial addiction and mental health helpline (24/7): 1-866-355-5550
In the case of an emergency, call 9-1-1.
Community Peer Support Team Lead- Fredericton
Janice Chaput (Janice.chaput@cmhanb-acsmnb.ca)
(506) 406-8137
Community Peer Support Worker- Fredericton
Alison Pyke (Alison.Pyke@cmhanb-acsmnb.ca)
(506) 405-0117
Community Peer Support Worker – Campbellton
Kevin Renouf (kevin.renouf@cmhanb-acsmnb.ca)
(506) 802-0474
Community Peer Support Worker – St. George
Ckhyamoj Glassford (ckhyamoj.glassford@cmhanb-acsmnb.ca)
(506) 406-6660
Community Peer Support Worker – Sussex
Martha Chown (martha.chown@cmhanb-acsmnb.ca)
(506) 300-9410
Virtual services may be available, contact for more information.
Peer Support Trainings and Workshops
For more information on trainings, please contact our Provincial Peer Support Contact at:
peersupport-pairaidant@cmhanb-acsmnb.ca
1-888-357-8442
Certified Peer Support Training Program
Transform lived experience into professional recovery practice.
The Certified Peer Support Training Program prepares individuals with lived experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges to serve as professional Peer Support Workers within recovery-oriented systems of care across New Brunswick.
Peer Support is not simply about sharing your story. It is the intentional, ethical, and competency-based use of lived experience to foster hope, promote self-determination, and support others’ recovery.
This program equips participants to integrate experiential knowledge into structured service environments while maintaining professional standards, boundaries, and accountability.
Recovery-Oriented Foundations
The curriculum reflects provincial expectations for Peer Support practice and is grounded in:
- Recovery principles and strengths-based approaches
- Trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice
- Ethical self-disclosure and professional boundaries
- Role clarity within interdisciplinary teams
- Self-awareness and sustaining one’s own recovery
Participants explore how lived experience becomes a professional tool, not the focus, within mental health and addiction services.
Competency Development
Through interactive learning, reflective exercises, and applied scenarios, participants develop the ability to:
- Facilitate recovery-oriented conversations
- Support empowerment without directing outcomes
- Navigate healthcare systems while maintaining role integrity
- Collaborate effectively within service teams
- Apply ethical decision-making in complex situations
Graduates are prepared to work within community organizations and provincial health services, including Vitalité Health Network and Horizon Health Network.
Program Structure
- Three weeks of in-person intensive training
- Two-week supervised internship
- Written and oral evaluations
- Competency-based internship assessment
Successful participants receive certification recognized provincially.
Recognition & Accreditation
- Recognized by the New Brunswick Department of Health
- Accredited through Continuing Education at Université de Moncton
Investment
$1,500 + applicable taxes
CMHANB remains committed to supporting accessibility by including accommodation and meals during the training period.
The Program Fee Includes:
- Three weeks of in-person training
- Two-week supervised internship
- All training materials and manuals
- Written and oral evaluations
- Certificate upon successful completion
- Weekday accommodation during the three-week training period (Sunday evening to Friday)
- Meals provided during training days
Please note:
- Weekend accommodation (Friday and Saturday nights) is not included.
- Transportation to and from the training location is not included.
A Pathway to Purpose
Many individuals in recovery reach a point where they begin to ask, “How can what I have lived serve others?”
The Certified Peer Support Training Program provides a structured and professional pathway to answer that question. Through preparation, reflection, and competency development, lived experience becomes more than a personal journey; it becomes a disciplined practice grounded in ethics, dignity, and hope.
For those who feel called to give back in a meaningful and responsible way, this training offers the foundation to do so with integrity and impact.
Next Cohort – French Training
Date: May 18 – June 5, 2026
Location: Campbellton, New Brunswick
The next Certified Peer Support Training (Only Offered in French) will take place May 18–June 5, 2026.
How to Apply
Individuals interested in the Certified Peer Support Training must complete the online application form.
Once the application form has been submitted, a member of the CMHANB team will contact eligible applicants to schedule a virtual interview.
Upon completion of both the written application and the virtual interview, the candidate’s information will be reviewed by a selection committee.
Admission to the program is competitive. Completion of the application form and participation in the interview process do not guarantee acceptance into the training.
Only selected candidates will be contacted with confirmation of admission.
Please note that the application period ends April 24th at 3:00pm.