Seven graduate from the Center for Mental Health's Peer Employment Training Program

The Center for Mental Health celebrated a milestone on March 18 when seven people graduated from the Peer Employment Training Program.

Peer specialists use their life experiences with mental illness, as well as recovery knowledge and skills, to support other people recovering from serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression or PTSD.

PET program graduates, Sonja Letz, William Gange, Virginia Carnes, Joseph Olson, Kelli Jackson and Frans Swier, can apply for jobs and join other peer specialists already employed by the center.

Peer Employment Training is an 80-hour college level course that includes homework each night, a midterm and a final exam.

For many, severe and disabling mental illnesses have prevented them from working for many years, so the program also serves as a transition back to the world of work.

"The peer specialists have really enriched our services," said Center for Mental Health Foundation Director Heidi Gibson. "They can intercept people who walk in with a mental health crisis, and their expertise helps prevent the crisis from escalating. Early intervention means people need fewer services down the road."

All participants must first complete Wellness Recovery Action Plan training so that they can develop their own self-care strategy.

"Recovery doesn't mean they're 'cured,' " CMH interim CEO Sydney Blair said. "It means mental illness is no longer the biggest thing in their life. It means they can dream again about having a very full life. People can, and do, get better."

For information about graduation or opportunities for upcoming trainings, call Peer Support at 727-4315 or send an email to peersupport@center4mh.org.