by Beth Ayers, Family Support Training Coordinator
September 8, 2025
September is Recovery Month and my last month with Montana’s Peer Network. As the Families Division branches off and becomes a separate family-run organization, Family Peers for Hope, I have been reflecting on my time with MPN and what I have learned about recovery, particularly my own.
I have been working with Montana’s Peer Network for the past 5 years, as an employee for the last 3. Working for a recovery organization has taught me to put my wellness first, that advocacy is important, affecting change is hard work, and that relationships are the most important thing in business and in life.
Recovery, or wellness, takes intentionality. Every day I check in with myself. How am I feeling? What is planned for the day? What do I have to do? How will I take care of myself? I practice breathing and being present. I am getting better at knowing when I need to push myself and when I need to take a break. If I’m not feeling well, I try to determine if it’s physical, mental, emotional, a combination, or all of the above. I am getting better at not jumping straight to “fixing” it but instead pausing and accepting the feelings. This last year has been hard as I struggled to manage my depression. I changed medications multiple times, started seeing a new counselor, reduced my workload for a period of time, exercised more regularly, practiced mindfulness, incorporated different foods into my diet, and kept putting one foot in front of the other. I’m feeling better and healthier. But recovery and wellness are not end goals, they are a daily journey through life. It is also not a straight line. It ebbs and flows. Some days are better than others.
Working for a recovery organization has shown me the responsibility I have to advocate. As a parent, I advocated for services and for what was best for my child and our family. As a Family Peer Supporter, I advocated for the families I worked with and helped them advocate for themselves and their child. As a community member, it is my job to advocate for fair treatment and access to services. I get to speak up against stigma and discrimination. I’ve had the opportunity to serve on boards and councils. I have grown as an advocate through my work with MPN. Being able to advocate for what I’m passionate about has been a big part of my recovery and healing journey.
I started out 5 years ago looking for training to support parents and caregivers whose children were hospitalized at the psychiatric center. Our child had been hospitalized numerous times, and I knew how much I could have used another parent who had been through the same things to walk beside me and share their experience, strength, and hope with me. I recognized the importance of standardized training, scope of practice, and code of ethics. I also saw the need for sustainable funding. The last thing I wanted was to start a program that couldn’t expand or wouldn’t last. After connecting with MPN and recognizing the need for workforce development of Family Peer Support, I set out to do for Family Peer Support what MPN had done for Behavioral Health Peer Support. I learned that affecting change takes more than passion, more than seeing a need, and more than having a big idea on how to make things better. It takes a plan, hard work day in and day out, continuing on after setbacks and disappointments, working with others and forming lasting relationships in the process, pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and a willingness to learn and grow. I have used my voice to affect change. I have shared my lived experience in front of legislators, parents, CEOs, psychiatrists, governmental department heads, and national conference attendees. Montana will soon have Certified Family Peer Support Specialists and we are not done. I will continue to work for change so that no parent has to walk alone.
The relationships I have made through this work are the biggest gift. I have gotten to learn from incredible mentors. I have been blessed to work with parents and caregivers that entrusted me with their stories, their heartaches, and their joys. I have experienced healing through supporting others. I have worked with amazing Family Peer Supporters whose passion and vulnerability inspire me daily.
Recovery is hard work, but man is it worth it. I am incredibly grateful for the past 5 years and the opportunity to work for MPN. I am thankful for the wisdom and experience MPN has given me that I now get to take into my role at Family Peers for Hope. I am excited for the next adventure in my recovery journey. Stay tuned!
Thank you. Sincerely, Beth Ayers