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.
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]
So You Want To Be A Facilitator:
This day-long workshop is for new facilitators or those interested in becoming one. We will examine the definition of peer support groups, the meaning of facilitation, adult learning principles, listening skills, the importance of guidelines, reasons for conflict, and several approaches to conflict resolution. [For more details]
Winter 2010 Workshop Series
Whether formal or informal, small or large, volunteer-based or work-related, groups have a tendency to generate a wide range of ideas. This is one of the strengths of groups, which tend to be more creative than individuals, in part due to the interaction of diverse perspectives. However, without sufficient awareness of how to facilitate this potential richness, it can become a road block that breeds conflict, lack of understanding and unnecessary power struggles.
These three workshops offer participants both information and practical tools to help them harness the potential of their groups. Although not required, we encourage you to attend all three workshops, as there is a foundation and flow from one topic to the next which will allow you to gain the most benefit from your participation. [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: "The Value of Peer Support and Self-Help"
This resource is the powerpoint notes from a speech given at the Guelph Conference of the Ontario Self-Help Network, May 2006.
Geoff Nelson is Professor and Chair of the Psychology Department and faculty member in the graduate program in Community Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University.
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.