Toshio Saito
the NPO Little Pocket Nakano Ward Community Life Support Center Seseragi,
Peer Support Staff

I have been working as a Peer Support staff member in the field of peer telephone counseling since 2008 and in the field of community transition support since 2012 at the MOTA Community Life Support Center in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, which I regularly use as a consultation and support organization. Then, in 2014, I was fortunate enough to join the Community Life Support Center Seseragi in Nakano Ward, a neighboring ward, as a Peer Staff member. I have been working there as a part-time employee for 9 years, working three days a week. My main responsibilities include monthly peer counseling, running peer support groups three times a month, providing individual support in community transition support, conducting life situation interviews with service users, and participating in various programs.

There are many good things about working as a Peer Staff member, but first among them is that it has significantly contributed to my personal recovery from mental illness. Working has helped me establish a daily routine, and my physical and mental health have greatly improved as a result. Before joining Seseragi, I was taking six different medications a day, but I gradually worked with my primary physician to reduce the medication, and now I only take one type of medication a day. I also reduced my visits to the psychiatric clinic from once every four weeks to once every eight weeks.

Another positive aspect of the job is the numerous opportunities it provides for boosting my self-esteem. For instance, my personal experiences with recovery and living in a group home are valuable when I can use them to help others. During peer counseling sessions, service users often express their gratitude by saying, “I’m glad I talked to Mr. Saito,” or “I want to become a Peer Staff member like Mr. Saito.”

However, I believe that my personal experiences with mental illness are only directly relevant in about 50% of the situations I encounter as a Peer Staff member. I engage in a wide range of conversations with service users, from discussing trivial matters to addressing everyday concerns, so active listening, empathy, and understanding are crucial aspects of providing support. As a Peer Staff member, I always keep in mind that we are equals and companions while also being support providers. Nevertheless, I don’t think that I am unilaterally supporting the service users. I am often supported by users in various situations, such as when they tell me, “Don’t push yourself too hard, Mr. Saito,” or when they listen to my stories. As a Peer Staff member, the words “support” and “supported” are the words that best fit me. I believe that I am who I am today because of the help of the people around me, including the service users and the professionals who work with me.

Working as a Peer Staff member comes with its challenges, too. It’s hard for me to hear some of those mentally unwell users yelling and verbally abusing me. In such situations, I sometimes seek assistance from the professionals I work with. However, I believe that outbursts and harsh language are the result of their illness and do not define the entirety of who they are. Illness is just one part of a person, and I think it’s essential to maintain this perspective. This stance serves as the foundation of my work as a Peer Staff member.

As for my future goal, I would like to gain more experience in the field as a Peer Staff member. I hope that experience will expand my skill set, become an asset in providing support, and ultimately contribute to helping the service users I encounter. Additionally, since working in the field can bring both positive and negative experiences, I aim to develop resilience as a Peer Staff member, much like a flexible willow that can withstand rain and wind. Above all, I would like to continue being myself, just as I am, in a natural and authentic way.

Edited and published by the Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities.

Published on April 25th, 2023.