Helping people realize their potential and help others

CAMH Foundation Annual Report 2005 - 2006

"CAMH’s greatest strength is all those here who want to make a difference. I have seen so many people go out of their way to make clients feel comfortable and at ease - it makes me feel good to be part of this environment.” - Cheryl Peever

Cheryl Peever, Acting Manager of CAMH’s Acute Care Unit and General Psychiatry Unit, and a 2006 Courage to Come Back Award recipient, strives to let the world know that addiction and mental illness can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, race or social status. Formerly addicted to cocaine, and having struggled with alcohol and depression for nearly 10 years, Cheryl understands the importance of putting aside stereotypes. “People need not only to be more aware, but also to be more tolerant of the fact that this sort of thing can happen to anyone,” she says. “Addiction and mental illness don’t discriminate.”

Cheryl took her first drink at the age of 13, and remembers drinking and smoking marijuana regularly during her teens. At 21, Cheryl tried cocaine, and by 27 she had developed an addiction that had her using every day, often freebasing and injecting. Over the next three years, Cheryl’s relationship with cocaine would strip her of self-confidence, self-esteem and hope. At her lowest point, Cheryl says, she was paranoid, suicidal and desperately wanted to get help.

Trying and failing many times to quit, Cheryl found that becoming clean was the hardest thing she would ever do. However, she managed to succeed and eventually celebrated her first year substance-free, which she considers her greatest achievement. Cheryl decided to go back to school, and completed an undergraduate degree and a master’s degree at the University of Toronto.

She began her career at CAMH as a social worker in the Child, Youth and Family Program, where she started an anger management group for young offenders. In 2003, she moved to the General Psychiatry Unit, and made it a priority to increase CAMH staff education about the challenges that clients face when dealing with substance use and mental health problems. “Cheryl was very passionate about educating fellow staff members,” says Jamie Amaral, Manager of the Acute Care Unit and the General Psychiatry Unit, and Cheryl’s nominator for the Courage award. “I saw a quality in her that was both professional and compassionate. When she accepted the position as Acting Manager I knew that our clients and staff were in good hands.”

In September 2006, Cheryl will begin a new position as Acting Manager of the Women’s Inpatient Unit.

• Print Share