Words from our Affiliates
As the founding affiliate, Compeer Rochester is thrilled as we approach 50 years of service to Monroe County. It has been a pleasure to watch Compeer grow and adapt over the years, following the needs of individuals and their families through community-based care. Stories of Compeer friendships echo through our neighborhoods from current and past participants, showing a ripple effect of the power of human connection in healing mental health challenges. We honor Bunny Skirboll for launching Compeer in Rochester and replicating the program; a program proving always ahead of its time and of value to every community in which it exists. We look forward to the future of Compeer International and the development of more affiliates around the world; using the power of friendship and peer support to promote mental wellness for all.
Compeer – MHA Cleveland County receives robust support from Compeer International through our interactions with staff, as well as the worldwide network of Compeer affiliates, in volunteer recruitment, case reviews and troubleshooting, grant opportunities, data collection and analysis, and more. The support we have received has been foundational to our program’s continued growth in serving our local community.
At Compeer Sarasota, we provide a unique friendship and mentoring-based program for people living with mental illness. This is a benefit to our area particularly because Florida ranks 43rd in the nation in access to mental healthcare. As a no-cost program, youth and adults are not burdened with any expense in accessing our services. Surveys show our programs result in decreased anxiety and depression, decreased mental health hospitalizations, increased school attendance, higher academic performance and increased participation in community activities. These outcomes are consistent year over year.
How do you measure the effect this program has on individuals? You look at the smiles on people's faces when they are explaining how it makes them feel; you see their tears of appreciation; you witness their laughs and cuddles. Life is tough for so many of our group, but Compeer Canberra is a shining light, giving them hope, compassion and belief in a better tomorrow.
