About the Peer Support Program

We offer peer support services to people affected by sexual misconduct and/or military sexual trauma (MST) during their service and/or in their workplace. These include Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, Veterans/former CAF members, current and former DND public service employees, Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers, 18 years and older.

On this page

• Definition
• Creating a Peer Support Program
• Meet the peer support team
• Get involved

Definition

Peer support is the giving and receiving of emotional support among people who share a common experience. It offers a safer space where peers affected are believed and their experiences validated.

It also promotes a sense of:

• belonging;
• encouragement;
• solidarity;
• healing;
• empowerment and resilience.

Creating a Peer Support Program

People affected by sexual misconduct and MST report that the specific DND/CAF aspects of their experiences are not always well understood by external civilian practitioners or service providers. They often describe feelings of isolation when seeking support services.

Many people who have experienced sexual misconduct and/or MST through their service or in their place of work and those who work to support them, have requested the development of a Peer Support Program as outlined in the External Review into Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Harassment in the Canadian Armed Forces report (the Deschamps Report) published in 2015.

This program supports CAF members, former CAF members/Veterans, current and former DND public service employees, Cadets, Junior Canadian Rangers, 18 years and older who have experienced sexual misconduct and/or military sexual trauma during their service or in their workplace.

The objectives of the program are to:

• bring people together with shared experiences;
• support safer environments to give and receive peer support;
• help create meaningful connections and share in learning;
• reduce isolation and stigma;
• increase participant’s sense of empowerment;
• contribute to overall wellbeing.

The Peer Support Program is being launched in a phased approach.

We held consultations with people affected in the fall of 2021 to better understand their needs and wants. From the resulting What We Heard report, the Peer Support Program needed to offer a diverse array of peer support services.

We also consulted subject matter experts who have experience in trauma care, military sexual trauma, sexual misconduct, mental health, peer support, and more.

Program evaluations (such as anonymous online surveys and one-to-one discussions with a program staff) are in place to assess the service. Evaluation results are used to inform future developments of the program.

The SMSRC also continues to host community consultations to further collect feedback.

If you are interested in taking part in a service or to provide feedback, you can contact the Peer Support Program at SMSRCPSP-CSRISPSP@forces.gc.ca.

Formal and Informal Peer Support Groups are currently available with additional services planned to launch in the coming year. The SMSRC will also provide regular updates on services as they become available via the SMSRC website and social media platforms.

From a peer: “It was a wonderfully diverse group, at different stages in their healing, which made for incredible opportunities to learn from each other's experience. It was great having common ground. Knowing I'm not alone makes me feel stronger.”

Meet the peer support team

Peer Supporters are peers with lived experience of sexual misconduct and/or MST who are trained to support others through the delivery of our Peer Support Program services. They engage peer participants in discussion, model coping techniques and provide peer support by sharing aspects of their own healing process to foster connections, mutual exchange and break isolation.

Mental Health Professionals are Social Workers or Social Service Workers who specialize in peer support, mental health, trauma care, and helping people affected by sexual misconduct, and MST. Their role is to co-facilitate the Formal Peer Support Group and provide emotional and crisis support during formal and informal group sessions, when needed.  The mental health professionals participate in an intensive facilitator training delivered by the Peer Support Program as well as professional development training required as part of their professional designation.

Peer Support Regional Coordinators are members of the peer support team who conduct intakes with peer participants, coordinate peer support services and act as a main point of contact for the program.  They have an educational background in social services along with additional training in peer support, sexual misconduct and MST, trauma-informed approach to care, mental health and more.

Training for Peer Supporters: All peer supporters and mental health professionals take part in the SMSRC orientation training. This training includes but is not limited to the fundamentals of peer support, active listening, a trauma informed approach to care, what is gender-based violence, intersecting forms of oppression and harm, impacts of trauma, crisis management, self-care, leading group discussions, and much more.

The diverse and specific needs of CAF members, Veterans/former CAF members, current and former DND public service employees, Cadets, and Junior Canadian Rangers, are included, from various sources.

Through scenario based-discussions, role-plays, and practice sessions, peer supporters are equipped with the necessary knowledge, tools, and assistance to provide peer services to affected community members.

The orientation training was created with the help of subject matter experts and input from peers with lived experiences. The mental health professionals assist with the delivery of the orientation training and provide continued education to increase knowledge and skills of peer supporters throughout the year.

Get involved

If you are a CAF member, former CAF member/Veteran, current or former DND public service employee Cadet, Junior Canadian Ranger affected by sexual misconduct and/or MST 18 years and older and are interested in trying out the Peer Support Program services, please send us email at: SMSRCPSP-CSRISPSP@forces.gc.ca.