Liz Downes: Living with bipolar and supporting others as a peer

Liz Downes is a Peer Support Specialist and Associate Professional Lead at Counties Manukau Health, working alongside people with shared lived experience of bipolar disorder.Liz trained as a nurse. After having her first baby, she developed postnatal depression. When her baby turned one, she had a psychotic episode and was diagnosed with bipolar.She's lived with bipolar for 30 years. Five years after diagnosis, a psychiatrist suggested she'd make a great peer support specialist. She found her calling - using her experiences for good instead of seeing them as just a 'bad part of her life'.Liz says peer support is about mutuality. No hierarchy, no advice-giving. The person navigates their own waka. Liz sits alongside, listening and reflecting back what she hears.We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text or a voicemail by clicking here. If you need support, here are helpful links, phone numbers and resources: https://ember.org.nz/resources/in-a-crisis/