PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Abbey M

Hi everyone!

My name is Abbey (she/her). I am 21 years old and am currently in my fourth year at Acadia University studying psychology. I decided to become a peer mentor to help others in ways that I did not receive help myself a few years ago. Peer mentor work is powerful and creates a safe and validating space for people to share their stories. Outside of my academic and peer mentor involvement, I enjoy doing yoga and going for walks! I just truly love everything about nature in general. It is so calming. I also like to cook and bake in my spare time, although I do admit that I’m not very good at it – it all usually ends up being burnt. It’s fun though. Above all, I cannot wait to connect with you and listen to your story. We are all in this together!

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Abby L

My name is Abby. I’m a Halifax kid who’s got a great passion for traveling. I’ve explored Europe and Australia and I’m keen to continue my adventures :) Music has always been very important to me and I’m always down for song suggestions! I have a passion for helping others and hope to make a career out of it one day - I became a Peer Mentor to be able to give the help I wish I would have had when I was struggling as well as support others as much as I can through their recovery. I am excited to meet you and be a part of your journey!

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Alicia

Hi! I’m Alicia (she/her) and I live in Beaverbank, Nova Scotia. I’m 51, retired after 30 years as a Physiotherpist. I am married with a blended family, of 4 adult children and two grandchildren.

My favourite color is “sparkly”. I love all things crafty and creative: knitting, crocheting, sewing, painting, leather craft. My husband and I love wine, food and entertaining. My favourite way to move is Zumba! I also love cycling, hiking and yoga.

My journey with Anorexia/Bulimia Nervosa began 23 years ago. There have been relapses and recoveries; my journey was definitely not a straight line. I decided to become involved with Eating Disorders Nova Scotia because I want to help others find the compassion and self-acceptance that took me so long to find for myself.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Andrea E

Hi there! My name is Andrea and I live in Halifax with my husband and our two boys. I’m a former elementary school teacher but am now at home with my kids while also pursuing a career in writing. When I have a moment to myself I usually have my nose in a book, or I’m in the kitchen making another batch of granola. I love being active, whether it’s lifting weights, walking, running, or doing yoga. I struggled with disordered eating throughout my 20s, and it wasn’t until I sought help from a psychologist that I was able to start making changes for the better. I decided to become a Peer Mentor to encourage others on their recovery journey—it is so much easier when you’re not trying to go it alone!

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Andréa

Hi, I’m Andréa and I live in Halifax. I connected with Eating Disorders Nova Scotia through my own work of coaching individuals to make peace with food, and I’m now thrilled to be an official part of the team as a Peer Mentor. After having struggled with binge eating, bulimia and restricting throughout my university years, I later found myself wanting to give back and use my experience in a positive way to support others. I’m now in the process of upgrading my education with a Masters of Counselling in order to support a wider range of individuals in the future. In my free time I love hanging out with my family, spending time in nature, or enjoying a day at the beach. In my day-to-day life I’m always trying to find a balance between online and offline living, having big dreams yet moving step by step, and spending time with those I love but not neglecting myself. I’m loving the process of growing and learning more and more as life moves by.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Breagh C

Hi everyone! My name is Breagh, I use she/her pronouns and I recently moved from New Brunswick to Halifax. The things that make my heart smile the most are cats (!), spending time in nature, dancing, cooking and exploring different ways to creatively express myself. I attribute a large part of my recovery journey with bulimia nervosa to mindfulness and yoga and am currently in the process of completing my 200-hour Yoga and Meditation Teacher Training! These practices were so essential in helping me find balance, self-compassion and joy in my life again and I hope to share this with others who might be needing more of this in their lives. I am very interested in the mind-body connection and how movement can help facilitate this. One day, I would love to pursue Dance Movement Therapy! Ultimately, I cannot wait to connect with you, knowing that recovery is fully possible and to support you throughout your journey.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Candle K

Hello, my name is Candle, and I am new to Halifax. I have a love for nature, biographies, cycling, neuroscience, rock climbing, board games, good coffee, and anything outside; taking advantage of the mild weather here in Halifax, I spend as many nights as possible sleeping outside in my tent. I have been in recovery from bulimia for a little over four years and utilized a peer mentor-style program in my hometown. While I gained a vast array of tools from various forms of programs, I found my peer mentor interactions were a cornerstone in my recovery; the ability to be seen and heard by someone who was simply there to be present and listen was a true gift, and I would be honoured to have the opportunity to provide that to someone else. I am patient, awkward, curious and value honest, vulnerable conversations.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Cat R

Hello, I’m Cat (she/her), I’m from Halifax and still live here, and have been involved in mental health advocacy and peer support locally for years, primarily through Laing House where I spent 8 years as a youth speaker and am currently serving as a board member. I’m also a graduate of MSVU’s honours psychology program, and am currently enrolled in Dal’s MSc Psychiatry Research program. I applied to med school for 2021 without success, but got good feedback so my goal is to work hard and apply again after my MSc is completed. After 11 years and lots of chaos I started my recovery from anorexia while working on my undergrad and studying for the MCAT. It’s been a difficult few years since, but I’m finally reaching a point where recovery is starting to feel like the natural choice, instead of ED. I’m joining EDNS as a peer mentor because through most of my time with ED I truly did not believe I could ever recover, and yet I have, along with many of the people I’ve known who also struggled with ED. I also have lived experience with the public mental health care system, both positive and negative, and think the voices of people who have been through those experiences and anyone who has been stigmatized due to mental illness should be listened to and learned from. I also have experience doing several years in jewellery at NSCAD university and had my own online business, studied cultural studies and English (including learning Old English) in my teens and early 20s at MSVU, and now I live with my girlfriend and my cat in Fairview, reading books and occasionally painting, and work in retail.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Catherine M

Hello I’m Catherine. I love cats, the smell of old books, all forms of creative expression (I’m partial to watercolours and glitter right now), and spending as much time in nature as possible. I also enjoy thrift shopping and get very excited when someone leaves good stuff out on garbage day. Once upon a time I was a theatre artist, and I can still craft you a mean party costume from just about anything. Curious to know more about eating disorders and the recovery process, I returned to university for a degree in Applied Psychology, which I hope to pursue at the graduate level. I credit my own recovery from bulimia to a mixture of true grit, painting through many emotions, a yoga practice that reconnected my mind-body-spirit, finding a sense of community, and learning to trust my own inner voice again. To everyone on the recovery path: know that no matter how long the eating disorder has been there, or how hopeless it feels in the moment, full recovery is absolutely possible for you. I would also like to follow your cats on social media.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Chasity

Hi, I’m Chasity and I was born and raised in a small fishing village on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. I developed anorexia in grade twelve and although I physically recovered shortly after, I continued to struggle mentally for years. Personally accessing and benefitting from Eating Disorders Nova Scotia’s programs, along with therapy, has recently helped me further my own recovery. Connecting with others who understand has been key in my recovery and overall well-being. I’m now happy to provide the same type of support to others in my role as a peer mentor. I have an MA in English and Creative Writing, studied in France, and taught in South Korea. I’m now a teacher in Halifax. My hobbies include traveling, writing, reading, listening to podcasts, walking, yoga, baking and cooking, collecting crystals, and reading tarot and oracle cards. I also have a pet hedgehog.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Chris B

Hi, I’m Chris (he/him)! I’m from Windsor, Nova Scotia, and I recently moved to Halifax after studying Social Work in Ontario. I work in youth mental health. In my spare time, I like to read, hike, and pet other people’s dogs. As a kid and teenager, I struggled with disordered eating behaviours and negative body image. To this day, I continue to work on building healthier relationships with food, exercise, my body, and myself. I joined Eating Disorders Nova Scotia to support others in this community. As a mentor, I hope to listen to others and reduce feelings of isolation and shame, which I experienced as a man with disordered eating behaviours.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Emily C

Hey! My name is Emily C and I am a 21-year old female. I attend Dalhousie University studying Neuroscience and live in Halifax. I struggled with atypical anorexia and have been in recovery for over four years! I enjoy warm days on the beach and empowering spin classes at Spinco. I chose to become a mentor because helping others is my passion, and helping with eating disorders is near and dear to my heart.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Emily G

Emily loves to read, write, sew, and knit (when her cat will let her). She wishes she’d had a peer mentor during her own recovery and is excited to be there for others in that capacity.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Emily S

Hi, my name is Emily and I am from Halifax. I connected with Eating Disorders Nova Scotia as a volunteer in Fall of 2019 and immediately felt connected to their goals and values as an organization. After struggling with disordered eating for many years, I chose to become a peer mentor as I realize how valuable having someone to talk who understood could have been for me. I hope to now be able to provide that support to others. I have a degree in Psychology and have recently returned to school to complete my Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, taking on a health at every size and anti-diet approach to nutrition. I love dogs and have two of my own who I am rarely spotted without! You can find us hiking or on the trails in our spare time.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Hazel S

Hi! My name is Hazel and I am a proud queer person living happily on Cape Breton Island. I am a dancer, educator, and choreographer who never wants to stop finding joy in life. I teach as a substitute so that I can dedicate as much time possible to dancing (whether for work or myself). I have two fur babies, a cat named Jerry and a bunny named Shark, and everyday with them is an adventure. Time in nature is always on my to do list and I feel happiest in the middle of the forest or floating in the ocean. I am passionate about social justice and fiercely committed to lifelong learning. I have a history with mental illness beyond ED (anxiety, depression, OCD) and have found clarity in looking at my experience as a whole. I struggled with disordered patterns and body image issues my entire life. Like many, I spent years not feeling "sick enough". It wasn’t until I was diagnosed by a therapist with atypical anorexia that I finally believed it. Mentorship and peer support through EDNS then became a lifeline for me at the most pivotal part of my recovery. Now I want to be able to offer the same support to anyone who has felt the internal invalidation or pain I’ve felt - remind them they are valid, their experience is real, and recovery is possible. If I’ve learned anything through my journey, it’s that every disorder is unique to every person and our experiences are so diverse, but pain is pain, and together it can be a little more bearable.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Jamie D

Hi, I’m Jaime (she/her)! I love listening to podcasts, playing video games, reading, and the outdoors. As a bisexual fat woman, I am passionate about education and conversation around 2SLGBTQIA+ issues and body liberation. I’m from Hamilton, Ontario where I completed my bachelors degree in Social Psychology as well as a graduate certificate in Concurrent Disorders, and I am volunteering with EDNS virtually. I’ve always been interested in mental health and discovered my interest in peer support through completing my thesis as part of my degree. These interests led me to finding EDNS on social media and eventually applying to become a Peer Mentor. Through my adolescence and into my young adulthood I have struggled with binge eating, bulimia, and my body image. Finding various forms of support to unpack these issues for myself was life changing for me and I am really excited to use this experience to support others.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Jefferey S

Jeffrey Sotto lives and works full-time in Toronto, Ontario. In 2019, he published a novel called Cloud Cover based on his experience with mental health issues—specifically eating disorders.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Jo

Hi, my name is Jo. I’m from China and have lived in Nova Scotia for about four years. I’m a psychology undergraduate and wish to further my education in social work or psychotherapy, working to promote mental health awareness and provide support to people in need. I developed bulimia and binge-eating when I was in high school, and have struggled with food and body image for many years. I navigated through my recovery journey mostly on my own. I was proud of myself for doing that, but also felt a bit alone and disconnected. I joined Eating Disorder Nova Scotia and became a peer mentor because this would be the kind of support I wish I had when I was struggling. I want to be there for people in their recovery. In my free time, I enjoy hiking and swimming, but also love to stay home watching tv shows and anime and listening to my favourite music.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Katie L

My name is Katie! Originally from PEI but currently living in New Brunswick with my husband. I found Eating Disorders Nova Scotia through a quest to support those who are struggling with disordered eating. Through lived experience with perfectionism that eventually led to my battle with Anorexia Nervosa, I understand how challenging it can be to navigate recovery. Peer mentorship is such a beneficial piece to the complex puzzle of moving towards recovery that I wish I had during my recovery process. I am grateful for the opportuntiy to be this person for someone else! When I’m not working as a Community Health Nurse you can find me heading out on my next big adventure, spending time with family and friends, practicing yoga, running, and embracing the journey of becoming perfectly imperfect!

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Kristina P

Hi, my name is Kristina! I am a proud advocate of self-care, self-love, and breaking mental health stigma. I am from Edmonton, A.B but I now proudly call Nova Scotia, Halifax specifically, home! I love going to beaches, searching for sea glass and shells, hiking, and exploring the province. I also am a writer who loves to read all genres, but particularly romance, fiction and fantasy. I live with my fiancé, my rescued dog from the Bahamas, Clover, and my tuxedo cat Luna who we adopted from the SPCA in Pictou! I have always loved to help others and understand that the recovery journey can be a lonely one so I am so happy that this program exists and that I can be a part of it!

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Mathew M

Matthew (he/him) lives in the North End of Halifax with his partner and their two pets: a golden retriever and a cat. While he has lived with disordered eating his entire life, his anorexia diagnosis did not come until his early 30s. His recovery process included having a peer mentor of his own, so Matthew wanted to give back and use his struggle in a positive manner and provide peer mentoring to others! In his spare time, Matthew enjoys reading, watching documentaries, and running.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Megan P

Hi, my name is Megan! I live outside of Toronto and I am in university studying Psychology. I am a huge dog lover, I have 2 golden-doodles and they always make me smile (I am extremely biased but I think they’re the cutest pups). I enjoy going for walks, watching the sunset, crocheting, and playing the guitar. I am really passionate about mental health and think peer support is such an incredibly valuable resource. I am so looking forward to meeting and connecting with you!

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Nicole

Hello! My name is Nicole (she/her). I am 25 years old, a queer Latina, and currently living in Toronto, Ontario with my two beautiful pugs! I like to spend my time reading, watching scary movies, and volunteering. I struggled with disordered eating for many years, and it wasn’t until I found the right support and connected with those with lived experience that I discovered new ways of thriving. It was almost like I was meeting myself again – both a terrifying and beautiful experience and continues to be. I try to remember that being hard on myself isn’t my default and that it takes time to cultivate trust, kindness, and meaning, and connection can really be a catalyst to all of it. I am looking forward to meeting you where you are at in your own journey, to hear about your own unique challenges, to celebrate every success, and/or to just simply be there.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Rachel M

Hello! I am Rachel (She/Her), I live in Sydney, Nova Scotia. I developed Anorexia when I was a teenager as a way to lose weight. My recovery has been a long journey, with starting back at day 1 more than once. My ED held me back from social events, university, and relationships. Now, I am currently finishing my bachelor’s degree in social development studies at UWaterloo (online), I plan on continuing my education to become a social worker. I became a peer mentor because during my recovery finding people I could trust to talk to really helped. I also want to help other people know they are not alone, and they are more than their ED. I enjoy spending time with my new puppy, she is my world and keeps me very busy! I love going to the beach, during any weather and season. Walking or just being at the beach helps me clear my mind, improves my mood and it is always fun hunting for sea glass or jumping into waves.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Sally

Sally Wolchyn-Raab is an interdisciplinary artist, critical writer and arts administrator based in K’jipuktuk (Halifax). She is a queer woman of Ashkenazi/settler descent and works as the Artistic Director of Eyelevel Artist Run Centre and is an MFA candidate at Memorial University of Newfounland. Her work brings together contemporary visual art with community development and social justice. In her MFA she is researching how queer and intersectional feminist contemporary art practices can empower us to change our relationships with food away from trauma and towards collective care.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Sarah C

My name is Sarah and I am in my mid twenties. I go to school and I want to become an addictions counsellor. I am a huge mental health advocate that has been through it and came out of the other side. I want to be able to show people how mental health is important and bring awareness to things that I wish I knew when I was struggling. I love to make people laugh and I am a cat mom, she lives in luxury, and plant mom, sometimes not a good plant mom but we’re learning.

Taking care of yourself is productivity.

Thoughts are not facts.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Sydney

Hey I’m Sydney. Originally from Toronto, I moved to Halifax to study at the University of King’s College in 2017. I love listening to podcasts and going for long walks, trying to cook new recipes, and reading everything I can get my hands on. For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with negative body image and disordered eating behaviours. For the past few years I’ve been steadily improving my relationship to my self, body, and food, which I credit to years of therapy and learning about the anti-diet movement. I became a peer mentor to be the person I needed when I was struggling and felt totally alone.

PEER SUPPORT MENTOR

Yaejin Kim

Hello, I’m Yaejin. I’m originally from the US and recently came to Halifax to study psychology at Mount Saint Vincent University and to be with my girlfriend. I am ethnically Korean and a butch lesbian and have found a lack of understanding for how EDs and other mental health issues specifically affect minorities, particularly people of color, all across the general public, the mental health system, and academic research. When I was struggling with anorexia, I felt alienated and misunderstood and as if I could not speak upon various aspects of my identity, such as my culture, without repercussions or dismissal. Being able to connect to other people with marginalized identities and an eating disorder has helped me greatly in recovery and I hope to be able to do so for other people as a peer mentor. I also want to further understanding of mental health as a complex subject, dependent on various aspects of identity, culture, and greater institutional systems. My hobbies include drawing, reading, video games, learning about food history, and playing with my cat.