What is Unique Peerspectives?
Located in Downtown Syracuse, Unique Peerspectives is a recovery space for individuals to take meaningful steps towards mental wellness. Whether you’re looking for support, connection or guidance, UP provides a safe and encouraging environment where recovery is personal, and progress is shared.
What makes UP unique? Here, everyone (including our staff) works side-by-side to set and achieve their goals. Our team is made up entirely of certified peer specialists, individuals who have walked their own paths through mental health challenges and are now trained to support others on their journey.
At UP, peer support means:
- Lived Experience: Every staff member has faced their own mental health challenges, offering genuine understanding and compassion.
- Specialized Training: They’ve completed professional training to transform their experiences into tools for helping others navigate recovery.
- A Judgement-Free Zone: Here, there’s no “us and them”— just a community working together towards wellness.
At UP, programming is always evolving based on the needs and interests of our community. Whether you’re looking for structured support, creative outlets or simply a space to connect with others, there’s something here for you.
What do we do at Unique Peerspectives?
At Unique Peerspectives, members actively shape both their individual and group goals, creating a dynamic and supportive environment where everyone plays a role in individual and collective recovery. Whether it’s through skill-building, social outings, or creative projects, UP offers a variety of ways to connect, heal and thrive.
UP provides a range of activities designed to help members develop life skills, find support, and engage with others who truly understand. Our daily support groups, weekly skills classes, community activities, and one-on-one peer meetings offer different ways to participate based on personal interest and needs.
Reach Us 24/7
AccessCNY offers 24/7 peer support via our warm line. We can be reached by calling 315-437-3300
Support Groups
A space to share experiences, navigate challenges, and find encouragement from peers. Some of our most popular groups include:
- Women’s Support Group
- Men’s Support Group
- LGBTQIA+ Support Group
- Managing My Emotions
- Neurodivergent Support Group
- Grief Support Group
- Abnormal Sensory Perception Support Group
Skills-Based Classes
Learn and grow with hands-on activities that promote self-care, creativity and personal development. Some member favorites include:
- Arts & Crafts
- Cooking with the Program Manager
- Yoga & Meditation
- Expressing Yourself Through Music
- Coloring Relaxation
- Afternoon Activity Time
Community Activities
Social outings and group projects help members build relationships and practice new skills in real-world settings. Past activities have included:
- Bowling nights
- Trips to state parks, including Green Lakes State Park
- Syracuse Mets Games at NBT Bank Stadium
One-on-One Peer Support
Every member has the opportunity to meet with a Certified Peer Specialist to set and work toward personal goals. These meetings offer guidance, encouragement and a judgement-free space to navigate life’s challenges.
Why Use Peer Services?
When it was created in 1996, UP was the only peer-support program in Central New York. In recent years however, the number of peer based programs in operation has exploded. And with good reason! According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), peer programs are very effective in helping people improve their mental health in a sustainable way.
Programs at UP can help:
- Reduce mental health related hospitalizations and inpatient treatments
- Improve levels of self-esteem and hope
- Improve social relationships
- Increase quality of life
Services
Donate
Careers