First Hand
First Hand Articles
It’s Global Peer Support Day!
We're beyond grateful for our 150+ peer support specialists who turn personal hardship into hope every day. Michelle, one of the…
Finding My Way: From Recovery to Reunification
Both my firsthand team in Knoxville, TN and my Youngstown, OH team offered me compassion, empathy, love, and room to…
Being Seen in Full Color: LGBTQIA+ Identity and Mental Health
How many ways does it change the world, change our communities and neighborhoods, when we are vulnerable, transparent and authentic,…
Creative Compassion: Persistence and Out-of-the-Box-Thinking Can Change Lives
*Trigger warning: Suicidal thoughts/attempts*Firsthand’s Akron team has been walking with Sharon on her path to recovery as she navigates her…
The Strength of Showing Up: How Peer Support Breaks the Mold of Traditional Care
The peer model is not an alternative; it's a necessary complement to traditional care, breaking through barriers with empathy, understanding,…
Autism Awareness and Acceptance: An Unexpected Journey
By sharing my personal journey living with autism, I hope to continue raising awareness, enhancing understanding, and humanizing the narratives…
It Works If You Work It, So Keep Coming Back
Every day brings new challenges as we tackle hurdles together, functioning not just as an office but as a community…
“I figured I would spend the rest of my life out here and would die on the streets.”
Matthew had been sleeping outside for years, living in survival mode, hand to mouth. He was actively using drugs, and…
Tiny Triumphs, Major Milestones- Rita’s Journey
Change can blossom in the seemingly trivial - an opened door, an answered phone call, a sense of warmth. It…