Grassroots Groundwork Expands Peer Support During Mental Health Awareness Month

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) -May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and a local group is working to make sure no one feels alone. Grassroots Groundwork is led by Francis and Rob, both peer support specialists and peer recovery coaches with lived experience in mental illness and substance-use challenges. They say their mission grew from seeing how limited crisis options can be in the area, even when resources appear plentiful. Building a peer-run organization comes with obstacles, including earning trust and recognition in a field often dominated by clinical voices. To better understand what leads people into crisis, the group created a project called Impact. The initiative surveys and interviews locals about unmet needs and their experiences navigating crisis. Early findings show basic hardships—like food insecurity, being overworked, and homelessness—are common drivers of crisis. The team says peer support matters because shared lived experience can help people open up and feel understood in the moment. Grassroots Groundwork uses the data to advocate for stronger services and earlier support, before situations escalate. They’re asking the community to volunteer, attend their fundraising event, and help keep peer support services free.

For more information, visit www.gglansing.org/about/ .

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