Southern NH Medical Center’s Peer Recovery Program Receives National Recognition
Manchester, NH – Southern NH Medical Center has been awarded the 2025 Beacon of Hope Award for its innovative Reverse the Cycle program, a peer recovery initiative demonstrating meaningful success in connecting patients wiht substance use needs to vital treatment and support. The award recognizes the program’s effective integration of consistent screening, rapid peer engagement, and linkage to treatment within the hospital’s emergency department workflow.
The Reverse the Cycle program centers around peer recovery coaches, available seven days a week, who collaborate with emergency department staff and community partners to support patients from initial screening through recovery. These coaches utilize their lived experience to build trust, offer stigma-free support, and facilitate “warm handoffs” to treatment, often accompanying patients to their first appointments.
“I became a peer recovery coach because I wanted to provide a service to others who struggle with the disease of addiction that was not available to me,” shared Mike Witmer, a dedicated peer recovery coach at Southern NH Medical Center. “I love it because it gives me the prospect to show others who suffer from this disease that we do recover! And that with dedication and a lot of hard work, it is truly never too late to turn your life around.”
In the Emergency Department, peer coaches transform brief encounters into meaningful steps toward sustained recovery by educating patients on treatment and harm-reduction options, maintaining follow-up contact for up to 90 days post-discharge, and advocating for patients’ needs within the healthcare system. This personalized approach aims to reduce relapse risk and encourage long-term engagement.
The Beacon of Hope Award is a testament to Southern New Hampshire Health System’s mission and commitment to patient care,demonstrating the impact of empathy,teamwork,and dedication in creating lasting change within the community.
More facts about Southern NH Medical Center’s behavioral health services can be found at https://www.snhhealth.org/services/behavioral-health.
