A local group is hoping peer support meetings can help fellow Niagara residents going through a crisis.
Niagara United has started MAPS, Mental Awareness Peer Support meetings, where people dealing with mental health or addiction challenges can find like-minded people to talk to.
Organizer Wendi Duggan says the hope is that people will be able to build a support system of people who know exactly what they're going through.
"The support system we have right now is the people at Niagara United. So we handed out our numbers yesterday to everyone so they have a list of six people to call before they have to go to the hospital."
The first meeting was held last night at Start Me Up Niagara.
"So there was 45 people that want to come back. That's a for sure thing," Duggan says. "And from the feedback we got, they're going to spread the word to their friends and family to come on out, so I can only see it getting bigger. So now it's just a matter of finding a place where we can hold it."
Duggan says the group is looking to find a place to host their next meeting and will post updates on their website NiagaraUnited.org.