Kelly and Paul: Friendship by Another Name

Officially, Kelly is a Peer Support Worker for Paul.  Kelly has schizophrenia.  Paul has bipolar disorder.  Kelly has completed his practicum by spending a total of 30 hours with Paul.  Prior to his practicum, Kelly attended various sessions as part of two levels of Peer Support training.

This formal relationship seems secondary to the evident human connection of kindness, understanding and common purpose between them.  Kelly and Paul are friends.

Both have been through the unique and common experiences that often come with a psychiatric diagnosis including homelessness, long hospitalizations, on medication, off medication, on social assistance, finding help at Coast’s Mental Health Resource Centre and living in Coast Supported Housing.  And Paul had the additional challenge of dealing with alcohol and crack addictions that ended with him being hit by a car on May 22, 2007.  The accident put Paul in a coma that lasted three weeks and resulted in a brain injury.  Paul tells you and you know he means it when he says he is lucky to be alive.  He has made it a priority to attend support groups to stay clean and sober since he came out of his coma.

They also both speak of the unique and common steps that are part of their recovery:  an accurate diagnosis, the acceptance of the fact they have a serious mental illness, medications that work properly, subsidized housing with a staff person to work with them one-on-one, and the meaning and purpose they have both found through the Coast Mental Health Resource Centre and its Peer Support Program.

Kelly used to come for meals occasionally at the Resource Centre and really got more involved when his Housing Worker told him that Coast was offering Peer Support training.  Kelly likes working with people and in his training found purpose by being a role model, learning how to communicate effectively, feeling more confident as he feels better working and attending courses.  He says that he is “more enthusiastic in getting up in the morning” and with the responsibility, “it makes me feel I am accomplishing something.”

For Paul, “it is easier to relate to someone who has gone through it” and “we talk about things you would not normally talk to people about.”  They talk as they walk around the seawall of Stanley Park, at Lost Lagoon as they go to see the signet swan, and over card games of crib.  Kelly taught Paul how to play crib and they laugh as they describe how the card game student is tied 10-10 in wins with his teacher.

The laughter is authentic but Kelly is intentional in activities.  Walks are good physiotherapy for Paul as is playing crib as he has to exercise his brain.

Both are realizing their own potential and moving beyond simple recovery to connect with another person who understands what it is like to overcome challenges each day.  They have fun and Kelly has not just taught Paul to play crib.  Paul plans on taking the Peer Support program to help others the way Kelly helped him.