In a straightforward nod to the often unsung heroes supporting those grappling with mental health and substance abuse, Denver marked the 10th Annual Global Peer Support Celebration Day (GPSCD) with city-wide applause for its Peer Support Specialists. On October 17, a gathering organized by the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) hosted at the McNichols Civic Center Building shone a light on this crucial workforce. These individuals marry lived experience with professional training, guiding others through the recovery process under a powerful mantra: "If I can do it, so can you," according to the City and County of Denver.
Karin McGowan, DDPHE Executive Director, emphasized the significance of these roles in the community. "Denver is committed to meeting people where they are, with the resources they need in their recovery journey. Peer Support Specialists are a key piece of strategy to connect with folks,” McGowan told attendees during the event, as per the City and County of Denver. Peer Supporters cross paths with Denver's most vulnerable, tackling issues like substance misuse, mental health, and, involvement with the justice system, within various city departments, including the Public Library and the Office of the Municipal Public Defender.
The celebration's highlight was an award ceremony on October 17th, culminating a series of events that kicked off with a City Council proclamation reading on October 14. The ceremony not only recognized Peer Support Specialists and their supervisors for their community contributions but also pulled in stakeholders and city officials who witnessed firsthand the impact of Peer Support in Denver. The GPSCD festivity, an initiative first started by the International Association of Peer Supporters and the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare Administration, intends to laud the everyday efforts of these individuals on the third Thursday of October each year, as reported by the City and County of Denver.
Since its recognition as an evidence-based practice in 2007 by the Health and Human Services Commission, Peer Support has been shown to bolster hope, social functioning, and self-care engagement, while reducing related symptoms to mental and substance use disorders. Peer Support Specialists not only improve individual outcomes but also help lower the overall cost of services by promoting wellness and recovery.
