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00:00:01
Peer supoort is a great place to start
8 Plays3 months ago
Welcome to this week's episode. Each week I enjoy coming in to talk to you about ways to relieve stress and learn how to manage it. This week I am sharing a resource that you can explore or even start in your own agency. Peer support involves people from similar backgrounds that provide emotional, social, and practical support to one another. The key components are shared experiences, emotional support, and practical guidance. Remember to do your own research and check out the two I spoke about: COP2COP and COPLINE.
Stay safe friends.
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Transcript
00:00:02
Toni Gonzalez
and this is me.
Introduction & Storm Impact
00:00:43
Toni Gonzalez
Hello friends, we're gonna jump into this week's episode in the midst of a storm here in New Jersey. It was really, really crazy.
00:00:53
Toni Gonzalez
Lost power a couple times, but we're back and today is a new day. it is still coming down, but it's slowed down a bit. So...
What is Peer Support?
00:01:02
Toni Gonzalez
I want to talk to you about peer support and supporting each other.
00:01:06
Toni Gonzalez
And then I'm going to give you some tips on or some ideas on how to get started and remind you that there are programs already set up. And i'm gonna talk about a couple that i know about. And then, couple that know about.
00:01:21
Toni Gonzalez
ladyy leave you with a tip. So we do work very crazy jobs and what we face daily is more than most people face in their jobs, right?
00:01:33
Toni Gonzalez
So I want to explain a little bit about what peer support is and not many people know, but I just want to talk about it. Peer support involves individuals in similar roles as us or situations providing assistance, encouragement, and and understanding one another.
00:01:49
Toni Gonzalez
For first responders, this means officers, firefighters, paramedics, and others sharing their experiences, challenges, and coping strategies. It's about creating a community, people, a community where we can safely express our feelings and support one another.
Challenges for First Responders
00:02:05
Toni Gonzalez
So first responders are often exposed to traumatic events, like I said, and high stress situations, which can lead to issues like PTSD, anxiety, and burnout. The nature of this work means that we witness things that most people never experience.
00:02:19
Toni Gonzalez
This exposure can create feelings of isolation, especially when we feel that others don't understand what we're going to what we're going through. Peer support provides an outlet and normalizes your feelings, helping to combat the loneliness.
00:02:34
Toni Gonzalez
Engaging in peer support fosters resilience and helps individuals feel less alone. When first responders share their experiences with their colleagues who can also empathize, it helps reduce feelings of guilt and shame around seeking help.
00:02:49
Toni Gonzalez
This connection promotes trust and understanding, allowing you to better navigate mental health your mental health journeys. Additionally, peer support encourages open discussions about mental health, which can lead to early intervention and prevent crisis.
00:03:04
Toni Gonzalez
Organizations
Implementing Peer Support Strategies
00:03:06
Toni Gonzalez
can start this. You can start this on your own as well and you know maybe add on to whatever your area has. um Peer support programs, in here here's ah they're amazing. And here are a few ways that you can do it or key steps.
00:03:23
Toni Gonzalez
Train designated peer supporters in active listening, mental health awareness, and providing emotional support. New Jersey has that with Cop2Cop and they have a resiliency program, which is amazing.
00:03:34
Toni Gonzalez
This can equip them with necessary skills to help you know each other. and of course, there is there is that peer support um well, important detail, right?
00:03:51
Toni Gonzalez
Establish environments. You create safe spaces. So establish environments, whether in-person or virtual, where where first responders feel safe sharing their experiences without fear or judgment or repercussions.
00:04:02
Toni Gonzalez
Scheduling regular meetings, like encourage regular informal gatherings where peers can share their stories and experiences. Schedule check-ins can foster a sense of community and connection. Make it clear that seeking help is not a sign of weakness. People, I say this all the times all the time, it's a sign of strength. Promote initiatives that allow for discussions around mental health and wellness.
00:04:24
Toni Gonzalez
Provide information on mental health resources, helplines, and counseling services so peers know where to turn to when they need more specialized support.
Breaking Stigma & Building Resilience
00:04:35
Toni Gonzalez
Seeing first responders not just support one another but also break the stigma surrounding mental health is incredibly rewarding I've watched as individuals become advocates for their own well-being and well-being of their colleagues. I was a resiliency officer in my town, um and it was really a rewarding experience.
00:04:54
Toni Gonzalez
When people realize that they're not alone, it transforms their perspective and helps build stronger, more resilient teams.
00:05:03
Toni Gonzalez
I'd like to emphasize that peer support is an essential resource. It's about building a culture of trust and understanding within the first responder community. If you're a first responder feeling overwhelm overwhelmed or alone, reaching out to a peer is a great first step. Remember, it's not just it's not just about professional performance. It's about overall well-being.
00:05:21
Toni Gonzalez
Everyone deserves support and their strength in seeking it.
Resources & Final Remarks
00:05:26
Toni Gonzalez
So the two that I wanted to talk to you about are cop-to-cop. And there's Copline.
00:05:33
Toni Gonzalez
So those you can Google them online and you can search to see which one resonates with you. But Cop to Cop and Copline. And those are great places to start. I'm sure there's more out here. There are more out here. I'm just talking about those two because I'm very familiar with them. I just want to remind you to really think about your well-being and what you need.
00:05:59
Toni Gonzalez
And if it's not clear as to what you need, then ask someone. It's okay to do that. And there's therapy out here. There's also many resources and there's nothing embarrassing about that because I could tell you that I've done it myself. Sometimes things can get a little overwhelming. So I want to leave you with a couple of things.
00:06:17
Toni Gonzalez
Do something daily for yourself. Place yourself on top of the list and more importantly, stay safe out there and I'll talk to you soon.