PSALT Care is a uniquely valued resource for peer support members in their journey to mental wellness and recovery. It adopts a person-centric approach that is bottom-up in orientation and grounded on volunteering facilitation and community building and offers a myriad of holistic therapies. This approach is refreshing, effective and empowering for members in healing and leading dignified and fulfilling lives. It unites people, on the universality of their humanity, even as they encounter a diversity of emotional states and experiences.

Being peer support driven, there is a rich depth and myriad of personal experiences and challenges to draw upon. As well as being open, its welcoming and non-judgmental environment facilitates deep and honest discussions that are instrumental to recovery. This contrasts with typical therapeutic/institutional relationships which have asymmetry and hierarchy and can be restrictive in ways.

Critically it goes beyond purely diagnostic labels which can narrowly ‘straitjacket’ people and ultimately not be as productive in the process of recovery and mental wellness. While it is highly useful, it is imperative to understand the nature of the condition – traditionally prescribed labels are limiting. PSALT Care’s practice of adopting life affirming values-nomenclature such as “mental wellness” “recovery” and “condition” leads to both more respectful, humanistic interactions as well as fruitful outcomes, as borne by the recovery journeys and stories of members. It recognizes the humanity and suffering that is also universal and an integral part of the spectrum of human experiences.

Consequently, there are dedicated facilitators with extensive knowledge, training and skills as well as crucially lived experiences. For facilitators, this combines both theoretical knowledge and training as well as deep practical experiences. The passion and compassion that the facilitators bring are refreshing and enriching. This is exemplified by Rosalind Pek, who has been colossal and integral in the PSALT Care efforts from its inception and rapid growth today. Her outstanding commitment and care for PSALT Care members has fostered closeness and encouraged community.

The group is supported by other able and dedicated peer support facilitators like Chris and Deborah. Providing more well deserved resources will enable more to be done. Thus far, I have personally only attended maybe 4 sessions in total, yet have found all to be useful and enriching in their own way. Those attended included two support sessions, art therapy and most recently an introduction to WRAP. I look forward in time to exploring the diversity of other programmes on offer such as PEERLY HUMAN and Zentangle among others. The diversity of these courses is wonderful, providing a myriad of holistic therapies that has something that is catered to everyone that they may find beneficial. The gamut of activities that are being organised – from peer support sessions, to sports and even public speaking is indeed refreshing.

It would be appreciated if PSALT Care could also explore practical driven sessions focused on techniques as well as leveraging on individual strengths and unique talents. For example, courses on how to manage challenging thoughts and emotions and seek to direct it towards fruitful behaviour and outcomes. These could include therapies and modalities such as ACT as well as CBT. Other therapies/techniques beyond the traditional would also be welcome. In this regard the introduction to WRAP was also very useful and practical. Through the courses, peer support members can also discuss what worked for them and did not. This includes understanding whether certain programmes were constructive and their experiences. For leveraging on strengths, having members identify areas they are talented in or passionate about and finding practical, systematic ways to utilize that in their personal and professional lives.

Beyond techniques, drama and experiential therapies could also be useful to explore. The grander goal is of education and empowerment – both within PSALT Care and beyond to the wider society. This includes continuing to grow and build as well as to connect with other wellness groups. Moving beyond the walls of PSALT Care, we could endeavour to educate and inform wider public society on the diversity of mental conditions – removing stigma, shame, disinformation, distrusting and negative attitudes. We could try to correct mind-sets that people who have faced these challenges are inherently defective. On the contrary, peers exhibit great courage and resilience to persist and have deep compassion.

We need the community to understand that every single person with cognition has mental health issues. We should at least appreciate, if not celebrate, that the human condition invariably has a spectrum of emotions/feelings – joy, sadness, anger, etc. [All the emoticons on WhatsApp and beyond ;)] As well as that suffering/trauma is an inevitable part of that experience as well as fellow travellers. In summary, I personally appreciate the great work of PSALT Care’s community efforts and desire to see more resources and support being made available for mental health recovery.