RBC Pathway to Peers

The RBC Pathway to Peers (P2P) program provides targeted support for young adults aged 16–29 presenting to Mount Sinai Hospital’s ED with mental health, substance use, or chronic health challenges. Many young people face difficulties feeling understood by clinicians with whom they have little in common, often lack trust in the healthcare system, and are unfamiliar with hospital procedures and available resources. Post-pandemic declines in mental health, coupled with increasing housing unaffordability and ongoing systemic barriers affecting newcomer, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, and other marginalized communities, have intensified these challenges, leaving young adults struggling with fewer supports than ever.

Despite these systemic pressures, P2P has had a busy and exciting year in supporting young adults in the ED. Late last fall, the program welcomed three new peer support workers, Amal Abdullahi, Antonietta Gutierrez, and Rachel Lebovic, bringing additional expertise and lived experience to the team. These new hires have strengthened the program’s foundation, facilitated broader community outreach, and expanded the team’s professional networks. A key milestone this year was the signing of a partnership agreement with Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) to expand P2P to East York, alongside a service agreement with Peer Support Canada for consultation and ongoing program support.

We are particularly proud to announce that Bella Shulman, with four years of experience as a P2P peer support worker at Sinai, has been hired as the P2P program supervisor at MGH. Bella will lead the implementation of the program in MGH’s ED, supported by the new MGH team, Venessa Rose, Jack Lewis, Ashley Charbonneau, and Logan McCorkell, who bring extensive knowledge and experience to supporting young adults in one of Toronto’s busiest EDs.

A significant achievement this year has been the formalization of peer support worker certification through Peer Support Canada. After seven years of collaboration, the P2P team has established a process for full certification, providing standardized qualifications that are rare and often inaccessible in peer support work. Certification supports hospital integration by enhancing understanding of peer support roles among regulated healthcare professionals. This year, Stef Figueiredo completed certification, and Mahf Nikoo is in the final stages, with costs fully supported by the program to ensure equitable access.

The integration of Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) with P2P has strengthened cross-disciplinary collaboration between psychiatry and peer support. The team continues to work closely with mental health clinicians, psychiatrists, and Sinai Transitional Addiction Medicine (STAMP) clinic staff to improve community connection pathways for patients who use substances. In recognition of this work, the team received a Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters (CRISM) small grant to implement a best-practice checklist for opioid care in the ED, with training and resources planned through spring 2026 to further support clinicians and inform program practices across sites.

The P2P team has also shared their work nationally. In November, Mahf Nikoo presented a poster at the Children’s Mental Health Ontario conference, highlighting the program’s harm reduction approach. In April and May, team members presented at PeerWorks and Peer Support Canada’s 2025 conference, sharing insights on economic equity and identity-affirming care, with sessions exceeding capacity and generating follow-up requests for materials. The team has also been invited to the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine conference and the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Substance Use Conference, contributing to panels and workshops on harm reduction, program implementation, and youth peer support workforce development. Additionally, team members have attended conferences including BC Concurrent Disorders 2025, Peer Support Strong 2025, and Safer Supply Prescribing at Parkdale/Queen West CHC, further expanding their knowledge and professional networks.

Through these efforts, the P2P program continues to strengthen peer support for young adults, promote equitable access to care, and build national leadership in youth-focused emergency support services.