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Consumer/Survivor Initiative of Niagara

Welcome! We're glad you're here.

The Consumer Survivor Initiative of Niagara (CSI Niagara) is a consumer/survivor-driven organization motivated by the belief that self-help groups can improve people's potential, increase their self-esteem, and inspire them to self-advocacy.

CSI Niagara is one of many alternative community-based support organizations available throughout the Niagara Region. Our focus is on the empowerment of our members. Our self-help groups believe strongly in the value of lived experience and in sharing personal experiences with other group members.

WHAT ARE OUR OBJECTIVES?

CSI Niagara was incorporated in February 1997 with two primary objectives:

1) To build a functional consumer/survivor self-help organization for establishing and supporting self-help groups throughout the Niagara Region. Consumer/survivors are defined as people who have used, currently use, or are likely to use any aspect of the mental health system. Self-help is defined as mutual support: people help each other by sharing personal experiences with one another.

2) To promote the strength of the consumer/survivor movement through unity, public education, board development and leadership training. These initiatives shall be consumer/survivor-driven and draw on the strength and wisdom of consumer/survivors' life experiences to build support systems and to enrich the communities in which we live.

Our values...

At CSI Niagara, we strongly value peer support as a key element for recovery for many people with mental health problems. Peer Support involves people coming together with common experiences to draw upon their own strengths to help themselves and one another.

Peer Support groups can help people cope with mental health struggles like depression, anxiety, and anger management. Our groups are structured to provide support for people with similar life experiences.

We are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for all. Our leadership and Peer Support group facilitators are continuously and actively involved in educational, training, and advocacy efforts as we prioritize safety and support for everyone in our community.

What about our services?

We serve the Niagara Region.

Our services are free.

Our office is wheelchair accessible.

Our Peer Support groups are held virtually on Zoom.

We serve all genders.

We serve people who are 16 years old or older.

We offer our services in English.

We are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.