Thanks to the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia for funding the ROUTE (Relationships, Opportunities, United Together for Empowerment) Project! The overall objective of this project is to enhance the emotional health and well-being of MHA peer support workers across Nova Scotia, through monthly skills-building workshops, emotional support and self-care sessions, and other project activities determined by participants. This will lead to positive health and social outcomes among individuals living with mental health and substance use disorders across Nova Scotia. We expect to reach a minimum of 100 PWLLE through this project.
The ROUTE Project is buildng on the success of SUNAR (Substance User Network of the Atlantic Region),
a recently completed project which ran from 2020-24, aimed at building capacity among PWLLE across the Atlantic Region to change drug policy and save lives through education, outreach, and advocacy. While funding is no longer available, members of SUNAR have developed life-saving knowledge and skills and remain motivated to continue supporting their peers. Given the inherently stressful and often traumatic nature of peer-based work in the midst of a toxic drug crisis, MHA peer workers need to be supported to develop skills in self-care and emotional well-being. It is essential to “support the supporters”.
ROUTE (October 2024 – September 2025) is a peer-led support network providing monthly skill-building workshops, including emotional support, debrief opportunities, self-care sessions, and other activities aimed at preventing burnout, coping with stress, loss, trauma and grief. By supporting MHA peer support workers, our goal is to retain experts in the field to continue supporting individuals living with mental health and substance use disorders across Nova Scotia. Peer workers are critical to supporting and saving the lives of PWLLE.
The content of the workshops is being gleaned and adapted from resources previously supported by the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, as well as other evidence-based curricula. We are focusing on five main dimensions of self-care, including physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual. Using an interactive format, participants are learning about various key pillars of self-care (e.g. health literacy, mental well-being, physical activity, healthy eating, risk avoidance, sleep, etc.) and have ample opportunity to practice some of the skills.
In addition to the workshops, peer education and support is available through various platforms, including a peer-led phone line and online chat, website, and social media (e.g. Facebook, Zoom, and Discord).
Performance monitoring and evaluation is an integral part of this initiative. We anticipate various positive outcomes on the emotional health, well-being and substance use of ROUTE participants. Through the peer-led workshops, phone line and online chat, and other project activities, participants will feel more connected and supported in their lives. They will gain knowledge and skills related to emotional health and self-care, thereby empowering them to manage stress, anxiety, grief, and other factors affecting overall health and well-being. Stay tuned for updates!
