New peer-led mental health, addiction support program to be trialled

People recovering from mental illness and addiction will facilitate a peer-led support trial across the Territory.

Territorians recovering from mental illness and addiction will come together to design a peer-led support program.

Funded by the NT Primary Health Network, the NT Lived Experience Network will trial and evaluate a new program called Recovery Together in the Greater Darwin region, Katherine and Alice Springs.

It is one of the first ‘peer-led’ programs in the NT after the Territory signed a $43m bilateral agreement with the commonwealth to fund community prevention and post-vention services.

Recovery Together facilitator Rocket Bretherton said she first went through a similar program when she had a relapse in 2021.

“It’s very important to have peer-led education because you all connect on a deeper level of understanding,” Ms Bretherton said.

“It has helped keep me on track and get back on track while meeting some good people.”

Ms Bretherton said after successfully completing a peer-to-peer program she went on to study her Certificate IV in Peer Work Mental Health, which had led to her co-designing and now facilitating Recovery Together.

When reviewing the current mental health act in the NT, the government released a summary review that stated systematic reforms across Australia used the knowledge of people with lived experience.

“The national trend is towards increased and consistent involvement of people with lived experience in shaping the mental health system,” the review said.

“National recognition is being given to mental ill-health and carer lived experience to shape mental health reform and acknowledge the importance and benefit of involving people with lived experience at the centre of the process.”

Currently, the Northern Territory public mental health wards do not employ peer support workers but Ms Bretherton said that should change.

“Peer support creates a real feeling of togetherness rather than being under the spotlight,” she said.

“There is a 100 per cent sense of community and that people support me no matter what.

“That is a sense of belonging.”

Originally published as New peer-led mental health, addiction support program to be trialled