Welcome!
The Self Help Resource Centre strengthens communities across Ontario by promoting peer support groups that facilitate positive outcomes for people who are facing diverse life transitions and challenges.
What's new.
Help us sustain and promote peer support in Ontario by donating through CanadaHelps.
Your financial contribution is vitally important to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Self-Help Resource Centre, and support hundreds of organizations in Ontario, and thousands of individuals, who rely on the benefits of peer support groups including friendship, emotional support, experiential knowledge, identity, meaningful roles, and a sense of belonging. All donations are tax deductible. Please read our case for support.
SHRC - Annual General Meeting and Self-Help Awareness Week
Self-Help Awareness Week this year is September 19th - 25th, 2010 with the AGM on the 23rd. During SHAW we will be hosting two workshops, the AGM and also an Information Fair. Come join us! [For more details]
Request for Volunteer Board Members
Interested in becoming more involved with the SHRC? We are looking for dynamic volunteers who are interested in becoming a part of our Board of Directors. [For more details]
The Self-Help Resource Centre's Membership Drive
This is a great opportunity to use your donation to pay for trainings you can access at your convenience next year. For only $200 this year, your organization could be member of the Self-Help Resource Centre's community of organizations and services and receive free training in the coming year. [For more details]
How to Start a Peer Support Group
This training is for individuals, groups and agencies who wish to learn how to start a peer support group. The workshop will introduce the concept of mutual aid and peer support groups and will cover the process - from initial planning to first meeting - in 10 easy steps. [For more details]
Goodbye to OSHNET, hello to Provincial Outreach!
As many of you are probably aware by now, SHRC's Ontario Self Help Network (OSHET) has had its funding cut by the Ministry of Health Promotion as a part of that Ministry's restructuring. Our funding for the program ended on September 30th, 2009. That doesn't mean however, that our programs and services are going away. [For more details]
Online Resource of the Month: "Breaking the Ice"
Factsheet on ways to engage people during the initial and subsequent meetings of a peer support group.
How to Start and Maintain a Self-Help Group: New Translations Available
Our online article "How to Start and Maintain a Self Help Group" is now available in 4 other languages. ”Arabic” ”Somali” ”Spanish” ”Urdu” [For more details]
Guide pour former et animer un groupe communautaire
A new french language resource on starting a self-help group is now available for download.
Real Stories, Real People
Read or view inspiring stories from people who have used self-help support groups.
Research Articles on Self-Help
View research articles and literature reviews from our Online Resource page
The Story of the Health Whisperers
The Self-Help Resource Center's Health Whisperers are a group of volunteer lay health promoters who conducted informal research over the summer of 2007 in a variety of neighborhoods in Toronto. They were trying to find out what newcomer women understand about breast health and what they know about the breast cancer resources that are available in Ontario. [For more details]
Free Self-Help E-Bulletin
You can get advanced notice of all our workshops, conferences and events by subscribing to our e-bulletin. Use the link on the right hand side of this page.