Welcome to CornerBridge, Concord Peer Support and Pemi Valley Outreach
CornerBridge (aka) Lakes Region Consumer Advisory Board, like most peer support organizations began as a drop in center as a result of the closing of the Partial Hospitalization Program that was under the auspice of the Community Mental Health Center's Community Support Program. In 1995, Lakes Region Consumer Advisory Board was incorporated.
In April 2005 we opened the doors of our new peer support center on a part time basis. The center is located at 55 School Street in Concord, NH
CornerBridge and Concord Peer Support provide a vast array of relevant peer support services. These services are developed, implemented and facilitated by the members of CornerBridge and Concord Peer Support for their individual as well as collective recovery from severe and persistent mental illness. In the Pemi Valley area we provide outreach and groups to assist those in rural areas access peer support. Our mission is to advocate and empower individuals to take control of their own wellness and recovery, and work mutually with others to affect change.
We practice a particular kind of peer support which is a "system of giving and receiving help founded on key principles of respect, shared responsibility and mutual agreement of what is helpful." This is called Intentional Peer Support (IPS). The intention is to use the peer support relationship to clarify, focus on, and move toward our personal life, recovery, and wellness goals.
Through the practice of IPS, and our program of support groups and activities, we gain greater confidence in our ability to handle uncomfortable feelings and personal emotional crisis, avoid frequent hospitalizations and lessen the need for other medical or clinical interventions.
All of our programs are free and grounded in the principle of personal responsibility, mutuality, reciprocity, respecting others' thoughts and beliefs as valid and important, growth beyond stigma, shame and limits placed upon us, and creating and maintaining a strong, active voice and presence dedicated to social change. We believe that by developing better relationships people feel valued, become empowered and thereby move toward recovery.
If you are a consumer of mental health services and are at least 18 years old, we invite you to spend some time at CornerBridge and Concord Peer Support or attend a group with our outreach provider and meet our staff and other consumers in a safe, non-clinical, non-judgmental, stigma free, and positive environment. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have and welcome the opportunity to talk with you.