2024 Global Peer Support Day

By Eva Wong, Executive Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health, Yumiko Ikuta, Director of Mental Health Access, and Dr. Nivea Jackson, Senior Manager of Community and Workforce Initiatives

Today, please join the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health (OCMH) in recognizing Global Peer Support Day as we celebrate the power of lived experience. A peer is someone who has faced mental health and/or substance use challenges or navigated systems like foster care or juvenile justice, and now supports others on their journey to recovery.

Peer Support Workers (PSWs) provide unique empathy and non-judgmental guidance because they’ve walked the same path. Their contributions in engaging and supporting individuals and communities are increasingly recognized. By sharing their personal journeys and offering emotional support, PSWs help others develop coping strategies, build resilience, and foster a sense of community throughout the recovery process.

This day highlights the invaluable role of PSWs in promoting hope and empowerment, and it acknowledges their impact in creating more compassionate mental health systems. At OCMH, we’re grateful for the insight and advocacy of two incredible peers on our team — Dr. Nivea Jackson, Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives, and Yumiko Ikuta, Director of Mental Health Access. Please enjoy reading their reflections on why the role of peer support is so significant.

If you feel inspired to make a difference, learn more about becoming part of the growing behavioral health workforce by visiting the NYC Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health’s website.

Peer Support Saved My Life!

Yumiko Ikuta, Director of Mental Health Access

Before I was diagnosed, I always thought I had bad character and that I could “fix” it on my own. Due to the strong stigma towards people with serious mental health conditions in my Japanese culture, it took me more than ten years to get help, and I was already in my thirties. My therapist tried to encourage me to attend a depression peer support group, but I told her that the Japanese don’t air their dirty laundry and certainly not in front of 12 other people!

Eventually, she said I don’t have to say a word, just listen to the other group members. When I heard my peers’ stories, I had an epiphany: “Wait a minute, it’s not that I have a bad personality, but I’m struggling with a mental health condition like many others, so I’m not alone!”

I realized that if others in the group can get better, I can too and I learned about the different supports and services that helped in their recovery.

As I started feeling better, some of my peers told me to check out the bipolar support group because they were having a lot more fun! Sure enough, when I heard them talking about their mania, I realized I have that too. Many people with bipolar disorder tend to only get help when they’re depressed. When we’re manic we don’t need anybody! So, we often get misdiagnosed as only having unipolar depression and oftentimes when you’re only taking anti-depressants, you’re not able to stabilize and are constantly cycling on a mood roller coaster.

After learning from my peers, I immediately went to my psychopharmacologist who concurred with my conclusion that I have bipolar disorder, and we changed my cocktail 180 degrees. I say peer support saved my life because I had already attempted suicide twice and were it not for that I would not be thriving today, much less be alive.

Embracing Our Voices: The Power of “Nothing About Us Without Us”

Dr. Nivea Jackson, Senior Manager of Community and Workforce Initiatives

If there’s one slogan that captures my journey and validates my entire existence, it’s this: “Nothing about us without us.” This powerful phrase, rooted in the ethos of peer support workers, serves as inclusion and empowerment. It reminds Peer Support Workers (PSWs) that our voices matter, our experiences are valid, and that true understanding comes from those who have walked the same path.

Growing up, I often felt invisible, struggling to find a place where my lived experiences were recognized and valued. But this slogan shifted my perspective, allowing me to embrace my story rather than shy away from it. It encouraged me to channel my feelings of invisibility into advocacy and a sense of belonging.

The abrupt heartbreak of being taken from my mother’s care marked just the beginning of a profound and challenging journey. Each step along the way brought its own trials: separation from my siblings, the weight of physical and emotional abuse, and the upheaval of living in 15 foster homes. Along the way, I faced the pain of 5 failed adoptions.

Eventually, I aged out of the foster care system and faced the harsh reality of homelessness. As I lay on the cold ground of my schoolyard, filled with uncertainty and longing for rescue, a spark exploded within me. At that moment, I decided: I would be the change I wanted to see in the world. I realized I never wanted another foster child to endure the pain, trauma, and loneliness that I had faced. This resolve became my guiding light, inspiring me to create a brighter future not just for myself, but for others who felt lost and alone.

I took a deep breath and began to educate myself about the laws and benefits available to foster care youth, determined to advocate for my rights. It was at that moment I realized my purpose: I would become a powerful voice for other foster youths. Despite the anger and pain from my experiences and the adults who had let me down, my journey as a former foster youth ignited a passion within me. Yet, through it all, I discovered resilience within myself that I never knew existed. This journey, though difficult, has shaped me into who I am today — stronger, more empathetic, and determined to rise above the challenges life has thrown my way.

I became committed to mastering the complexities of the various child-serving systems, transforming my struggles into strength. Ultimately, I channeled my resilience into becoming a Youth Peer Advocate, showing others that recovery is possible and that together, we can break down barriers and create lasting change.

As a Youth Peer Advocate, I found a profound connection in sharing my journey with others who had faced similar challenges. This bond fostered a deep sense of belonging and understanding, creating a healing space where we could all grow together. The power of peer support lies in its authenticity, rooted in shared experiences that resonate with the heart. Through this role, I was able to inspire resilience, promote mental well-being, and cultivate a strong community where foster care youth could find hope and understanding.

In addition, advocacy and the values of Peer support provided me with the ability to disrupt systems and policies that hindered the process of young adults successfully navigating systems. Together as peers, we transformed our struggles into stories of strength, illuminating a brighter path for those who follow which illustrates the value of peer support.