Peer to Peer Wellness Wisdom and Peer Connection

Independent Perspective #1634

Guest:  Geraldine Metcalfe

Topic:  Peer to Peer Wellness Wisdom and Peer Connection virtual support groups

Duration:  05:35

Published:  February 25, 2021

Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living. Our guest today is Geraldine Metcalfe, a Peer Support Specialist with Mental Health peer Connection, and your host is yours truly, Ernie Churchwell. Welcome to the program, Gerry.

Guest:  Thank you so much, Ernie, so happy to be here.

Host:  We're delighted to have you. As people that have listened to any of our recent shows know the agency is continuing to serve people with various disabilities, through virtual support groups. So that despite the Covid-19 pandemic, they can participate from the safety of their own homes via the Internet. And you are the facilitator of not one but two of the support groups, and we ask that you mention briefly, whom they serve and what they do, so that people will find out if they might have them appealing to their own situation. First is Peer to Peer Wellness Wisdom, who is this group designed for?

Guest:  Peer to Peer Wellness Wisdom is a social networking group that's designed for people who are forced into isolation because of COVID. But not only that, it’s that people who are going through the distress of socializing out in the community, they're fearful to go out, or they have a great inability physically, to be able to leave out of the home and make secure lasting friendships and have good supports. If you're, if people are lonely. They feel isolated. If they can't get out of their homes, and they desperately are looking for social support someone they can talk to someone they can tell what they're going through too, maybe learn about some other ways of coping with the difficulty of being kind of stuck at home right now in the middle of winter in the middle of COVID, and in the middle of something that an individual is going through. That's what our support groups are for.

Host:  That's great. And of course, these are mostly people that have mental health, behavioral health or addiction concerns that would be most attracted to this group. And because we still need to get in more on the second group, we'll address how people can contact you to enroll at the end of the program. The next group is Peer Connection. How is this group different?

Guest:  Peer Connection is about reciprocal lasting relationship building with people, and it's about receiving what you need based on what you're going through, but also helping other people get through what they're going through as well. It's an extremely supportive group. And many times, the one group actually then leads into the next one. So, Wellness Wisdom is 1:30 to 2:30 on Wednesdays, and Peer Connection is 3:00 to 4:00 o'clock on Wednesdays as well.

Host:  So, belonging to one group doesn't exclude you from participating in the second then.

Guest:  No, it doesn't.

Host:  Well that sounds like exciting developments and can there be a safer way in these pandemic times to participate than online? When people want to participate, do you send them a link to GoTo meeting or Zoom meeting or some such, how does that work?

Guest:  Yes, I do, actually, you can call me on my mobile number my mobile work number is 716-491-5323, and leave me a message with your name and your telephone number. And I will return your call. And I will get the appropriate information that I need to send you a link so that at the time of the meeting, you can click on the link, and be joined into the support group meeting.

Host:  Terrific. And in case people didn't have a pencil right at hand, that number one more time?

Guest:  716-491-5323.

Host:  Thanks so much for being with us, Gerry.

Guest:  You're welcome. Thank you.

Host:  Our pleasure. You've been listening to Independent Perspective, a Public Affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living. Our guest today was Geraldine Metcalf, Peer Support Specialist with Mental Health PEER Connection, and your host was yours truly, Ernie Churchwell.