Peer Support Skills Training

Training grounded in national standards and real-world experience.

Training backed by experience

MHI doesn't just deliver peer support training. We design, implement and manage peer support programs, bringing practical experience and a deep understanding of what makes peer support effective and sustainable.

  • MHI brings a deep understanding of the national standards of practice, informed by our leadership's involvement in their development.

  • Our training is informed by real-world experience and used by peer supporters actively supporting people across diverse workplaces and communities.

  • Our training is shaped by real-world experience supporting peer supporters in complex, trauma-exposed workplaces, including healthcare, public safety and first responder sectors.

  • We’ve spent more than 20 years developing and refining this approach and it is delivered by seasoned facilitators who bring their own lived experience, practical knowledge and trauma-informed approaches to the learning environment.

  • Our proprietary curriculum allows us to customize training to the specific needs of workplaces, industries and peer support programs

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Training At A Glance

Through learning, reflection, discussion and practical exercises, participants develop foundational peer support competencies.

6 Learning Modules

Each module includes:

✓ 1 hour self-paced eLearning module

✓ 3 hour instructor-led session that features interactive exercises, role-playing and real-world scenarios that allow participants to practice and apply their peer support skills.

That’s 18 hours of applied learning!

Flexible Delivery

✓ In-person

✓ Virtual

✓ Blended

Language Options

✓ English

✓ French

✓ Bilingual

Curriculum Aligned with

✓ Peer Support Canada’s Core Values of Peer Support​

✓ Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Guidelines for the Practice and Training of Peer Support​

✓ Peer Support Canada’s Required Competencies of Peer Support Workers

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Training for your organization

Your workplace is unique. Your training should reflect that.

Whether you're developing a new peer support program or strengthening an existing one, MHI can tailor its curriculum to reflect your people, your organizational culture and the environments in which peer support takes place.

What’s customizable?

Content

Sector-specific examples, scenarios and learning activities.

Delivery

Virtual or in-person learning, with flexible scheduling.

Language

English, French or bilingual facilitation.

Program alignment

Integration of relevant policies, referral pathways and peer support responsibilities.

We bring more than training expertise.

Our experience implementing and managing peer support programs helps us prepare peer supporters for the realities of their roles.

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Learning Objectives

Welcome to Peer Support

  • Distinguish what peer support is and is not​

  • Describe the peer support skills learning journey​

  • Describe the specific program in which you work​

  • Recognize the characteristics of a healthy peer support relationship

Promoting Wellness

  • Understand wellness​

  • Build resiliency​

  • Recognize distress​

  • Do self-care

Communicating Empathetically

  • Demonstrate inclusive language and behaviours​

  • Use curious questions​

  • Listen without judgement​

  • Demonstrate empathy

Supporting a Safe Space

  • Understand trauma​

  • Build trust by acting with integrity​

  • Confront stigma​

  • Understand values and judgement​

  • Maintain confidentiality

Empowering Change and Managing Crisis

  • Understand change​

  • Understand recovery​

  • Assess and respond to crisis situations

Maintaining Boundaries

  • Demonstrate mutual respect​

  • Maintain dignity​

  • Draw healthy limits

We offer our leading virtual peer support skills training to the public!

If you’ve lived through mental health challenges or significant life events, you already hold something powerful: 

experience, perspective, and empathy that can’t be taught in a textbook

Peer Support Skills Training is where your lived experience becomes a meaningful tool for connection and change.

Your Story Has Power.

Our Peer Support Skills Training is also available to individuals through scheduled virtual training cohorts.

This training is a hands-on, human-centered experience. Over the course of the program, you’ll learn how to build trust, create psychological safety, hold space for tough conversations, and set healthy boundaries—all while staying grounded in your own wellness.

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FAQs

What People Are Saying

  • “There is not one thing I can imagine changing about this course. There were so many subtleties that did not go unnoticed that added to me feeling respected in every moment. Thank you.”

  • “Awesome training. Frank and honest discussions. Very important to help us prepare for a real peer interaction.”

  • “I truly enjoyed my experience in this course. Learning so much about myself, my experiences and how to help and talk to others in an empathetic manner.”

  • “I just wanted to thank you guys for such an amazing training. You guys knocked it out of the park. I was wowed by how much preparation and thought went into this.”