Vision
An enhanced quality of life for people and their families living with persistent pain through self-management programs and peer support.
Mission
People in Pain Network is a non-profit organization that promotes well-being for people living with persistent pain and those who care about them, by strengthening self-management programs, access to resources, and community support.
People in Pain Network was founded in 2011 and established as a registered society in 2021 in Nova Scotia and has been a registerd charity since 2016.
Since our inception we have built an informative and interactive web site that connects people to information, education, resources and support. Provides information on each support group including location, day, time, transportation options etc. We are more than just a support group, we are PSMES (pain self-management education and support) groups.
Our PSMES groups use our adult Canadian Pain Toolkit self management program to form the basis of the educational segments of the meetings and SMART goal setting to build their "new normal". The topics at the meetings are collectively decided by the group members.
Since our inception we have built an informative and interactive web site that connects people to information, education, resources and support. Provides information on each support group including location, day, time, transportation options etc. We are more than just a support group, we are PSMES (pain self-management education and support) groups.
Our PSMES groups use our adult Canadian Pain Toolkit self management program to form the basis of the educational segments of the meetings and SMART goal setting to build their "new normal". The topics at the meetings are collectively decided by the group members.
About - People in Pain Network (Society)
People in Pain is an organization that puts 100% of the focus on pain self-management education and support. Our Pain Self-Management Educations Support (PSMES) groups offer free monthly meetings where people living with pain, their families and support people can learn and practice pain self-management skills with the support of others who understand.
People in Pain is an organization that puts 100% of the focus on pain self-management education and support. Our Pain Self-Management Educations Support (PSMES) groups offer free monthly meetings where people living with pain, their families and support people can learn and practice pain self-management skills with the support of others who understand.
People In Pain Board
President Executive Director Virginia McIntyre
Virginia Developed persistent pain in 2009 after a shoulder surgery.
Virginia, holds a BA in community studies, a diploma in Radiological and Magnetic Resonance Imaging and completed courses in leadership development.
She works extensively as lived experience partner/ advisor with research projects and is a proud member with the Atlantic Mentorship Network: Pain and Addictions Advisory committee, and the Canadian Pain Society Communication committee.
Also, a public presenter focusing on living with pain, peer support and pain related topics. Has extensive experience nationally and locally advocating for those living with pain.
Twitter handle @Virginia_McI
Vice President Christine Mader
President Executive Director Virginia McIntyre
Virginia Developed persistent pain in 2009 after a shoulder surgery.
Virginia, holds a BA in community studies, a diploma in Radiological and Magnetic Resonance Imaging and completed courses in leadership development.
She works extensively as lived experience partner/ advisor with research projects and is a proud member with the Atlantic Mentorship Network: Pain and Addictions Advisory committee, and the Canadian Pain Society Communication committee.
Also, a public presenter focusing on living with pain, peer support and pain related topics. Has extensive experience nationally and locally advocating for those living with pain.
Twitter handle @Virginia_McI
Vice President Christine Mader
We support our vision with the following goals
1. Development of community based peer led PSMES (Pain Self-Management Education Support) groups for people living with persistent pain.
1. Development of community based peer led PSMES (Pain Self-Management Education Support) groups for people living with persistent pain.
- Canadian Pain Toolkit for Adults and youth
- Provide facilitator’s with resource manual to lead meeting educational sessions .
- Providing pain self-management education and support.
- Place for people who have completed a pain education or a self-management program to continue to learn and practice self-management skills.
- Support for families and friends.
- Safe place to connect with others living with pain, and share experiences including struggles, solutions, successes and community resources.
- Reduce the isolation experienced by many individuals with persistent pain.
- Provide web based and community resources.
- Assist with goal setting, using the S.M.A.R.T goals.
- Designed to move the group members from a pain focused life to building their new normal based on movement and wellness.
Trained peer leaders
- In addition to ongoing training, peer leaders are provided a resource package which includes; tools, forms, evaluation, orientation recordings, and applicable items to facilitate a successful meeting with a balance between education and support.
- Peer leaders are also provided access to the PIPN mail-out system to provide group notices and maintain contact information.
- Hold one on one meetings to work together in planning a balance between education and support to meet the needs of the members.
People in Pain Network’s Strategic Plan
People in Pain Network is a non-profit organization that promotes well-being for people living with persistent pain and those who care about them, by strengthening self-management programs, access to resources, and community support.
Our main strategic initiative revolves around the establishment, sustainability and management of community-based peer-led self-management / support groups. PIPN holds yearly strategic planning workshops for board members’ to ensure that People in Pain Network is “on track” with our strategic plans.
PIPN continue the establishment of local community peer-led pain self- management support groups.
Enhancing the Capacity of our PSMES Groups
Canadian Pain ToolKit
Our organization owns the rights to the adult and youth Canadian Pain Toolkit Self-management Program, which forms the basis of the educational segments of our PSMES group meetings.
Our Pain Toolkit “tools” are similar to the Stanford model for pain self-management programs. Our support group members stay connected to education and support for as long as they feel they need to.
People In Pain Network (Society) Board would like to extend a sincere thank you to the many volunteers who make this organization a success.
Many thanks to our many volunteers, including our peer facilitators, communication coordination, guest speakers and national partners for their dedication and commitment.
People in Pain Network is a non-profit organization that promotes well-being for people living with persistent pain and those who care about them, by strengthening self-management programs, access to resources, and community support.
Our main strategic initiative revolves around the establishment, sustainability and management of community-based peer-led self-management / support groups. PIPN holds yearly strategic planning workshops for board members’ to ensure that People in Pain Network is “on track” with our strategic plans.
PIPN continue the establishment of local community peer-led pain self- management support groups.
- Our PSMES group meetings structure is on the development of pain self-management skills.
- Designed to move the support group members from a pain focused life to building persons new normal based on movement and wellness.
- Our meeting comfort agreements and format allow people to share both the struggles and solutions with others who understand.
- Help members build and lead their support teams.
- Health care providers from the community are invited as speakers at the support group meetings to bring education on an aspect of pain self-management.
- Provide the Canadian Pain Toolkit Self-Management Program for all our members.
Enhancing the Capacity of our PSMES Groups
- We provide printed material for our peer leaders to take into their healthcare community. This distribution of the information is to let health care providers and other organizations know about the work we do.
- We partner with other organizations to share resources.
Canadian Pain ToolKit
Our organization owns the rights to the adult and youth Canadian Pain Toolkit Self-management Program, which forms the basis of the educational segments of our PSMES group meetings.
Our Pain Toolkit “tools” are similar to the Stanford model for pain self-management programs. Our support group members stay connected to education and support for as long as they feel they need to.
People In Pain Network (Society) Board would like to extend a sincere thank you to the many volunteers who make this organization a success.
Many thanks to our many volunteers, including our peer facilitators, communication coordination, guest speakers and national partners for their dedication and commitment.
