Peer Basics

T he same communities with the least access to mental health services face the largest rates of suicide and other mental health challenges. Nobody understands the cultural nuances and needs of a community like that population itself. By building diverse peer-led recovery communities and advocacy initiatives that are led by and for the communities they serve, Peer Support Space is creating a chosen family that heals together and filling gaps in our mental health system.

S ince 2019, inspired by existing issues brought to light by the Pulse tragedy, Peer Support Space has grown into an organization whos services are used over 11,000 times annually. The organization is unique to other peer-led organizations in that, while it welcomes anyone 18+ to use its free services, it centers those most deeply impacted by systemic harm that have the least access to accesible and quality support.

P eople helping people is old as time, so where does our modern understanding of peer services come from? What core values are peer services led by? In what ways are peer services unique? How can I learn to hold space for others from a place of mutuality and nonjudgement? What is available to support myself, my clients, or my loved ones?

T hese questions and more will be answered by Peer Support Space's Executive Director, Yasmin Flasterstein (she/they) in this workshop.

Who This is For:

We welcome anyone to join! This workshops may be particular helpful for those interested in knowing what resources are available in our community, mental health providers, students, those interested in becoming peer supporters, individuals that people turn to for support, or anyone otherwise interested in learning a little more about what is going on in their community!

For healing professionals-- attending this workshop allows you to obtain 1.5 CEUs!

Objectives:

1. Encompass a new skill surrounding how to hold space for those struggling.
2. Gain a basic understanding of the history of peer services.
3. Have general knowledge of training required to become a CRPS.
4. Learn about the core values of the peer model.
5. Obtain new knowledge about research backing peer services.
6. Increase understanding of how peer services fill gaps in our mental health system.
7. Learn about the history being made by Peer Support Space made in Central Florida.

About the Facilitator:

Yasmin's personal and professional life has led her to be an advocate and leader for mental health, particularly within the LGBTQ+ and other historically underserved communities. Yasmin is a young, queer, latinx advocate that lives with a traumatic brain injury, cPTSD, Dissociative Disorder and is a suicide survivor. In college, Yasmin brought membership of a student organization focused on destigmatizing mental health, UCF Active Minds, from 20 to over 200 members in a semester. She also worked in the mental health response to Orlando's Pulse tragedy, directing a counseling program for those affected directly or indirectly and creating advocacy initiatives to start conversations about mental health in LGBTQ+, Latinx and Black communities. Today, Yasmin works as the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Peer Support Space, Inc. a nonprofit which has supported over 50 individuals in becoming Peer Supporters and has created lived experience led communal healing spaces for over 27 communities, focusing on populations that lack access to quality mental health resources. Yasmin has received countless recognitions including getting recognized as a Everyday Hero by News 13, 2019’s Most Remarkable People and LGBTQ+ Leaders of Tomorrow by Watermark and having her biography read into the congressional record for Women’s History Month.

Who This is For:

We are passionate in providing education for our community to learn more about peer services. This workshop is provided at no-cost. For those able to donate, we will gladly put 100% of your proceeds towards supporting Peer Support Space's no-cost group and 1:1 peer support resources!

Closed captions will be provided for the following training, please email mary@peersupportspace.org for any additional ways we can make this training accesible and welcoming for you or if you have any questions.