Write a one-page recovery story for payment

Deadline: 31 August 2017

What the story is for

PeerZone is developing a toolkit for people with mental distress and the people who support them. PeerZone Toolkit (aka Swell) will include 52 life challenges in nine domains. Each challenge includes a short article on what works, an activity sheet for people experiencing distress, conversation guide for supporters, and a peer recovery story. Visit www.swelltoolkit.com to see an example of the content. Visit www.peerzone.info to find out more about PeerZone

Why your story is important to us

We already have 36 fantastic recovery stories and the feedback we’ve had so far is that they are the most important part of our toolkit. These quotes from these well-known story tellers sum it up for us:

People are hungry for stories. It’s part of our very being. Studs Terkel

There is no greater burden than carrying an untold story. Maya Angelou

We learn best – and change – from hearing stories that strike a chord within us. John Kotter

What we need from you

Each recovery story needs to be half a page to a full page (A4 or US letter) and submitted by Thursday 31 August 2017 to info@peerzone.info. People can submit more than one story.

People who submit a story that is published will receive a NZD $100 Amazon gift voucher and a free copy of ‘Madness Made Me’ by Mary O’Hagan. The stories will be edited in collaboration with the authors who will decide if they want their story to be an anonymous or not.

Each story will discuss your experience of struggling with and overcoming or managing ONE of the following 11 challenges, especially as it relates to your experience of mental distress:

We look forward to receiving your story by 31 August 2017 at info@peerzone.info.

Mary O’Hagan

Director, PeerZone