A 12-member peer advisory committee of people with lived experience of addiction in Grey and Bruce counties is looking to help shape new and existing addiction services for the region.

In a March 2 media release from the Community Drug & Alcohol Strategy, CMHA Grey Bruce, the committee was launched in October 2020 and is made up of individuals with personal and family member experience of addiction who have diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Members have navigated a broad range of health and social supports within and outside of Grey and Bruce counties. Because of these experiences, members are considered experts and use their lived experience to help agencies improve their services.

The committee can be used as a sounding board for organizations adapting services to comply with social distancing measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. While these measures are essential for flattening the curve, some have created unintended and disproportionate consequences for people living in vulnerable circumstances. This committee can help agencies reimagine service delivery in a way that ensures the service continues to meet the needs of people it’s intended to serve.

“As someone in recovery, I want to assist in revamping addiction and mental health supports, programs and policies to make sure everyone can have access to the support they need when they need it,” said committee member Jacob Morris-Wheeler.

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Grey Bruce program manager Cheryl McMillan consulted with the committee in December and said that integrating this experiential knowledge into the design of programs leads to more equitable and effective services, and better overall health of the community.

“There is overwhelming value and benefit with engaging people with lived experience,” McMillan said. “They are best able to identify what works and what does not.”

Organizations can work with the committee to improve addiction services by booking a consultation session. To book, contact Alison Govier at 519-372-7880 or agovier@cmhagb.org.

For more information about the project, visit the Community Drug & Alcohol Strategy website at www.drugstrategy.org.

The peer advisory committee is resourced by the Community Drug & Alcohol Strategy, which operates on grants from Grey County and Bruce County, and is hosted by CMHA Grey Bruce.

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