Community Outreach

Watch these videos to understand what the PIER Program does to educate the community.

Community Education Through Lived Experience

The feedback from participants is that peer stories had the greatest impact in fostering their engagement in treatment. Personal stories offer different individualized examples of recovery and wellness to those seeking help. And young people in recovery benefit personally from the experience of directly helping others and give authentic voice to a misunderstood topic.

Watch this video of people with lived experience discuss when they noticed a change in themselves, what helped them, and what keeps them feeling hopeful.

Request a Community Presentation

Community members (e.g., teachers, faith community leaders, pediatricians, etc.) are encouraged to request more information and/or a presentation from the PIER team.

Request a Community Presentation

How does early intervention make a difference?

  • Facilitates more rapid and complete recovery
  • Enables progress toward life goals
  • Promotes engagement in school and/or work
  • Decreases need for intensive treatments
  • Maintained connections with supports
  • Reduces stigma

Community Education Through Lived Experience

The feedback from participants is that peer stories had the greatest impact in fostering their engagement in treatment. Personal stories offer different individualized examples of recovery and wellness to those seeking help. And young people in recovery benefit personally from the experience of directly helping others and give authentic voice to a misunderstood topic.

MaineHealth Institute for Research
PIER Program

Maine Medical Center 66 Bramhall Street Portland, Maine 04102

The PIER Program is part of the Maine Medical Center Department of Psychiatry and MaineHealth Institute for Research.
Funding for PIER comes from the Mental Health Block Grant through the Department of Health and Human Services.