Karen Gibbons
Peer Supporter Biography
Karen Gibbons
40 Mews Place
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
karen.fry@servicecanada.gc.ca
709-999-1157
- Group and Level:
- PM-02
- Branch:
- Skills and Employment Branch (SEB)
- Work Environment:
-
- Providing Services to Public (e.g., Call Centre, Front Line)
- Providing Services to Clients within Department
- Language:
- English
- Preferred method of Communication:
- Lync, Email
Peer Supporter Identifies As:
- Woman
Areas of Life Experience In Dealing With:
- Conflicts at home or with other employees
- Depression / Mental health difficulties
- Family issues
- Sickness
- Stress / burnout
- Suicide / Loss of a loved one
- Other: Domestic Violence
Brief Description of Life Experience related to Mental Health:
I began my career with the federal public service in September 1990. I had a brief stint in IT and then spent the next 25 years in the different disciplines of Human Resources in six different departments. After living in the NCR for ten years and losing my Compensation Advisor job, I changed employment and am currently a Service Canada Benefits Officer in EI Adjudication, back in my home town of St. John’s, Newfoundland.
I have been in and come out of the dark places found in divorce, depression, anxiety, PTSD, suicide intervention, sensory processing disorder, financial and health challenges, and workplace conflict. I also have experience with domestic violence ending in death (a close co-worker) and the lengthy subsequent legal procedures that follow. This wealth of lived experience has provided me the tools and empathy to support others who struggle with these or similar issues.
My self-care/therapy includes colouring, sewing, knitting, playing my ukulele, being a roadie/equipment tech/videographer for my partner’s band, spending time with my daughter and family, home DIY, puttering around my backyard, gardening, reading, stargazing, and hiking.
