Growing Through Webinar

"What we know about human growth is that... these difficult moments end up being very important." - Eduardo Vega

Growing Through is an innovative, strengths-based approach to supporting others through challenging life events and personal distress. Guided by best practices for mental health peer support and suicide prevention, informed by the recovery model, humanistic psychology and lived expertise, Growing Through provides skills training for serving as an “ally” to others in these difficult times, including effective use of one’s personal experience. 

Eduardo is an internationally recognized thought leader in mental health systems, programs and policy, consumer/patient engagement, stigma reduction, men’s health and suicide prevention.  He has lived experience of suicide and a consumer advocate himself, he helped found the 'Destination Dignity!' Project, 'United Suicide Survivors International' and other transformative initiatives. 

Growing Through philosophy and core practices including authentic presence and positive inhibition. It provides simple steps for keeping the focus on the ‘peer in pain’ and avoiding the impulse to advise while sharing personal lived experience in a helping context. Using real play and role play scenarios participants gain skill in the Growing Through approach to ensure that what they have to ‘offer’ is timely and truly helpful.