A new initiative supporting people with lived experience of substance use and mental health challenges officially launched Tuesday with a ribbon cutting at Point in Time in Haliburton.
The Coming Full Circle program, developed by Point in Time in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR), is a two-year project funded by Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP).
The initiative will train, mentor, and employ peer support workers who bring lived and living experience to the front lines of local care, helping strengthen mental health and substance use supports across Haliburton County.
“This program represents a different approach to care, one rooted in connection and lived experience,” said David Barkley, Program Supervisor. “Peer support means working with someone who truly understands the barriers and challenges because they’ve been through them too. That authenticity helps build trust and makes it easier to navigate the tough realities that can come with living in smaller, rural communities. People deserve support from a place where they feel welcomed, not judged.”
Tuesday’s event included remarks from project leaders and dignitaries, tours of the new community space, and opportunities to meet peer support workers.
Organizers say Coming Full Circle marks an important step toward inclusive, community-based mental health support—one that empowers individuals, builds resilience, and strengthens connections across Haliburton County.
