This service is available to the residents of:
Community Living Well Peer Support is delivered by West Central London Mind, in partnership with a number of other organisations offering mental health support in primary care.
Peer support brings together people with shared experiences, and these experiences can vary. For example, you might share a diagnosis of a particular mental health problem or similar personal interests. Or you may have shared experiences, such as hearing voices, identifying as LGBTQIA+ or having a shared cultural background.
Our Peer Support Services provide a range of opportunities for people to come together to reduce isolation, make friends and give and receive support based on the personal experience and a shared understanding of mental distress.
Structured self-help sessions where participants can share experiences, connect with others facing similar challenges, and build a supportive community.
Personalised sessions with a trained peer support worker who uses their own lived experience to offer empathy, guidance, and practical strategies for managing mental health.
Having the peer support service makes you feel like you’re not on your own and not isolated. It’s a lifesaver.
When Lucy first connected with WCL Mind, she was navigating one of the most difficult chapters of her life. After years as a full-time carer for her aunt, she experienced a deep sense of loss when her aunt passed away. “I was going through the usual bereavement things and trying to get my life back on track,” she recalls.
She returned to work, but as the anniversary of her aunt’s passing approached, the weight of grief and accumulated life pressures became overwhelming.
“One day I just thought, I’m going to go to a session. I went to an online group, and it started from there,” she says. Through a combination of peer support groups and thematic workshops, she found practical techniques to manage anxiety and panic attacks, alongside a space to reflect on the roots of her struggles.
Lucy first heard about WCL Mind through her GP, whom she describes as “very supportive” and committed to holistically helping her wellbeing beyond medication alone.
“There are times when I don’t feel able to come in person, but I can manage an online group,” she explains. “The sessions are facilitated well. If you want to talk, there’s space, and if you just want to listen, that’s fine too. It’s a very welcoming environment.”
Since returning, Lucy has been diagnosed with both PTSD and heightened anxiety, as well as other health conditions. “It’s helped me understand my condition,” she says. “Having the peer support service makes you feel like you’re not on your own and not isolated. It’s a lifesaver.”
Meeting others with similar experiences has helped her build a sense of community. “You see others at different stages, and it feels like a family. Even if it’s online, it still feels safe and non-judgemental.”
“Amazing” is how Lucy describes the staff and the breadth of programmes available. From workshops and peer groups to lighter social activities like quizzes and games, the variety gives participants choices to suit their needs.
She also highlights the vital impact of free access. “There’s no barrier. I was on a waiting list for counselling for a long time, and in the meantime this support really helped. It prepared me for counselling, especially reliving traumatic experiences.”
For anyone hesitant about joining, she encourages, “Go for it. It really does help. You might feel daunted at first and think everyone knows each other but just stick with it. There’s no judgment, and it really makes a difference.”
She describes the experience as grounding and clarifying, a way to make sense of thoughts that can feel tangled. “It helps unravel your mind when it feels like things are going round and round, like a washing machine spinning.”
For many, simply hearing “You’re not on your own” can be transformative.
Meet with a peer worker, talk through emotional challenges and share coping suggestions with someone who understands what it is like to experience mental health problems. Talking helps, but not everyone is comfortable talking in a group and even if you are, sometimes it’s nice to be able to sit and talk to someone on a one-to-one basis. Talking to a peer means you are with someone who is equal to you; they are not trained as a professional therapist or a counsellor. They are someone who can put themselves in your shoes.
To refer yourself to the Peer Support service, complete this online form.
Give and receive mutual support in a peer support group to manage daily stresses. Structured self-help peer support groups aim to bring people together who can share their experience of mental health. It’s your chance to talk about your mental health, an opportunity to learn about how others in similar situations manage their symptoms and connect with people who know what it’s like to feel the way you do.
To refer yourself to the Peer Support service, complete this online form.
These workshops provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals to develop self-management skills and strategies to cope with a range of issues.
Topics focus on practical advice, education, tips, and tools for managing mental health challenges. Workshops are co-facilitated by Peer Trainers. Peer support can help you in a number of ways:
The service is delivered in partnership with:
The workshops are held online or in person. They are available to anyone who is registered with Community Living Well Peer Support. You can refer yourself to the service by completing this online form.
For further information, contact [email protected]
Social peer support provides friendly meet ups where you can connect with others in a safe, supportive environment to join in an activity, or just spend time with people who have a similar interest and shared experience. Activities include walking, culture, arts, singing, coffee meet-ups, museum trips, social gatherings and much more.
To refer yourself to the Peer Support service, complete this online form.
Please note: Individuals cannot attend groups without a referral. To join, please complete the self-referral form. Once accepted, you’ll be added to our mailing list with details on how to sign up for groups.
The timetable is static, we also run additional ad hoc groups and social events, which are shared in our weekly mail-out.
