Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective & Psychosis Resources

Our Peer Supporters offer resources and support to individuals and families, sharing what worked for them to help our community thrive.

In October 2020, after 40 years of being known as the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society, the board passed a motion to take the necessary steps to rename the organization as Peer Connections Manitoba. This name under scores the value of connection within a context of peer support service delivery. Being a single illness focused organization was limiting our ability to serve the ever-increasing and broad spectrum of mental health needs of the larger population. With accessibility having been identified as one of the two biggest inefficiencies in our healthcare system, we feel it is our duty to remove barriers to receiving value-based peer support.

Peer Connections Manitoba does not provide medical services and therefore it is not fitting to use illness specific language to describe our organization. To be clear, we have not dropped our supports for schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and psychosis – they are now included in the support we provide for all mental health challenges and addictions issues. We believe in the potential of every person to live beyond limitations and experience recovery. It is our goal to create a culture that thrives on hope and possibilities not a community focused on deficits.

We have changed the name of our organization, but we will never forget our roots. It is important to us that we continue to provide quality mental health education and resources for our Manitobans.

peer-connections-manitoba-icon-zoom

Programs/Workshops

(in Manitoba)

All self-referred unless otherwise specified

For Individuals:

Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Service (EPPIS)

A 2 year early intervention service in Winnipeg for individuals 18-35 years old experiencing their first symptoms of psychosis. Call (204) 940-8771 to be connected with an EPPIS Mental Health Clinician and start the application process.

1-on-1 Individual Peer Support

Connect with someone who has experience living with a mental health/substance use challenge. Click the title above to be added to learn more.

Quick-Access Peer Support

Quick-Access Peer Support is available every Saturday at our Winnipeg office (100-4 Fort Street) with sessions at 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM. Our trained Peer Supporters provide a safe and supportive space for individuals dealing with mental health or substance use challenges. Sessions are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. You can pre-register by calling our office at 204-786-1616 ext. 230, or by visiting our office to sign up in person.

Please note: Quick-Access Peer Support is not available on statutory holidays.

Individual Peer Support Group

Open to all individuals who want to discuss mental health. Runs for an hour each week on Wednesdays starting at 1 pm, currently alternating between in-person and virtual. Please check our program calendar for the most up-to-date schedule. We also have a second Peer Support Group that runs in-person only on Saturday afternoons at 3:30pm here at 100-4 Fort St.

 

Please contact peersupport@peerconnectionsmb.ca if you have any questions.

Your Recovery Journey

A self guided curriculum to support individuals through their own recovery journey. The program provides online modules individuals can complete at their own pace.

For Families/Caregivers/Friends:

A workshop for family members coping with someone experiencing mental illness and struggling with how to support their loved one. This 5-session national education program is designed to meet the needs of family members, caregivers and friends of individuals living with and recovering from a mental illness. To register for our next session, email mherc@peerconnectionsmb.ca.

A group for family and friends of someone experiencing mental health challenges. The sessions run for an hour every Thursday starting at 6pm. Alternating between in-person and virtual sessions.

For Organizations:

This simulated workshop accurately portrays what someone who hears voices lives with every day, promoting a powerful understanding and awareness of the “hearing voices” experience. For caregivers, family members, workplaces, colleges/universities, paramedics, law enforcement and professional service providers who work with people who hear distressing voices. Participants will listen to recordings of voices through headphones while performing various tasks as the volume is adjusted.

Facilitated for people 18+ with access to a computer.

For more information or to register for an upcoming session, contact us at mherc@peerconnectionsmb.ca

**This program is not suited for individuals who are currently hearing voices**

Websites

We’ve gathered these websites as a resource to help you explore additional support and information.
Please note these are external tools and services, not part of our direct offerings.
  • Schizophrenia Society of Canada

    Canadas largest organization with a focus on Schizophrenia recovery, research, and advancements.

  • Manitoba Psychological Society

    A directory with verified psychiatrist across Manitoba. The website allows you to filter areas of focus making your search more efficient.

  • Early Psychosis Intervention

    A website created with the intent of providing collective resources to support individuals early  in their psychosis experience.

  • Cannabis and Psychosis

    Information to help you learn about cannabis and psychosis from people with firsthand experience. This platform aims to provide you with the facts so you can make your own informed decision.

  • Employment with Supports – CMHA

    A program to support individuals returning or entering employment. Click the link above and scroll to the bottom of the webpage for the qualification criteria.

  • Mental Health Court in Manitoba

    Offers pre-sentence services and supports to individuals whose criminal involvement is a direct result of their mental illness. Services provided by a Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) team established within the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s Community Mental Health program.

  • Legal Aid Manitoba

    Provides complementary legal representation and advice to individuals who are low income. Find the financial qualifications here.

  • Legal Help Centre

    A non-profit in Winnipeg supporting Manitobans with complimentary services for legal matters. Click here to see if you qualify for services.

Books

All books listed below are available at the Mental Health Education Resource Centre located at 100-4 Fort St. in Winnipeg:

I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help
by Xavier Amador, PhD

A guide on how to help someone during mental health challenges to accept treatment.

The Complete Family Guide to Schizophrenia
by Kim T. Mueser and Susan Gingerich

Words of insight and inspiration for a family witnessing a loved one going through the effects of Schizophrenia.

3. Living Outside Mental Illness: Qualitative Studies of Recovery in Schizophrenia
by Larry Davidson

This book is a collection of stories from individuals who have experienced Schizophrenia.

Rays of Hope: A Reference Manual for Families & Caregivers
by the Schizophrenia Society of Canada

Written from the perspective of family member providing real insight into supporting someone through Schizophrenia.

Videos

We’ve gathered these videos as a resource to help you explore additional perspectives and information.
Please note these are external materials and are not created by Peer Connections Manitoba.
  • Living Well After Schizophrenia YouTube channel

    Lauren used to live with schizophrenia. At the beginning of 2024 she began a strict program of metabolic therapies, specifically the medical ketogenic diet, to heal her brain. The result has been the elimination of all symptoms of schizophrenia, while also tapering off of all psychiatric medication. This is Lauren’s journey of living well after schizophrenia.

  • What Family Members Need to Know – Early Psychosis Intervention

    A video series interviewing Helen, a mother describing her experience of raising a son who has been diagnosed with Schizophrenia.

Podcast

We’ve included this podcast as a helpful resource for those seeking stories and information about mental health.
It is not a service we provide but a trusted tool we hope you’ll find valuable.