Vegas Rules in peer support
Dear Forensics Found community,
Last week, I completed a two-day peer support training with Behind The Line, which is a local (to me) team of social workers, therapists, and first responders who offer support and resources to public safety staff. The first day was spent deep diving on topics I have been obsessing over for the last two years:
The Brains and Bodies of responders
Sleep and Shiftwork
Socializing as a responder
Healing and Resiliency
Retirement or changing careers
So in summary, the main point of each section of day one was identifying how we are not normal and ways we can try and be more normal.
Does anyone else out there geek out over this stuff?!
Anyway, most of the information I learned was not new to me, which was comforting. I’m not a social worker or therapist, simply an old death investigator with a life coaching certificate and a ton of experience trying to be normal in an abnormal career. I feel a little like an imposter sometimes. But, the memories of my struggles, my loneliness, and the pressure keep me moving towards my North Star - better support for all public service employees (especially last responders but I love all-y’all).
Distress is ok, dysfunction is not
Day Two was why I really attended the class: How to set up a Peer Support team. Peer Support teams were developed to catch people upstream, so they could handle their shit on the level they are at, so that they don’t have to wait for things to get so bad they have to seek therapy, bad habits, or even suicide. Peer Support relies on the ability of the team to listen to each other from shared experiences and then simply be together.
Peer Support is not:
Therapy
About the critical incident or a series of events
People reminding you that you signed up for this
Documented or recorded
Mandatory
Confrontational
A reminder that you don’t have it so bad, that others have it worse
A laundry list of your messups and flaws
How much time do you spend at work with your colleagues - more than your family right? These people know you and you know them! Sometimes at their worst but mostly at their best. Who better to identify when something ain’t right - YOU!
Peer support is:
An opportunity to normalize our normal reactions to abnormal events
Confidential
Private
Consistent
An opportunity to heal and hear
About the reactions, emotions, behaviors around the critical incident or series of events
I sent out a survey a few months ago and here are the results. Only half of the respondents had heard of peer support and only 20% actually had peer support teams established in their agencies. Only ONE of those people used it. 80% of the respondents were interested in learning how to bring peer support to their agency or at least learning more about it.
93.3% said they would use a virtual peer support team or would be interested in hearing more!
The options are endless and we can make our space whatever we want to. There will be continuing education lectures - not just mental and physical wellness but also financial wellness, like how to save up for retirement or how not to rely on OT to fund your life? Or how to better communicate with your spouse/partner? There will be opportunities to learn how to build a Peer Support team at your agency. And most importantly, there will be opportunities to connect with others who get it.
The bottom line:
I’ve created this space and it is time to fill it with our people. To make connections. To begin sharing our stories privately so that we can heal. To learn more about how the job has changed us but not so we can wallow in sadness and regret! So that we can become aware of it and grow! One day, whether you like it or not, you will no longer be a death investigator or a police officer or a funeral director. When that day comes, I want you to have a life you’re excited to show up for. https://forensicsfound.thinkific.com/communities/Q29tbXVuaXR5LTM0NTA0
Cheers,
Kat
Learn more here:
Just Science podcast - Stress and its impact on decision making in forensic science
Stress, trauma, and burnout webinar
Handling difficult cases webinar
Additional benefits to Peer Support participants and agencies @Behind the Line
Use less force, more engagement with community
More alert on the job and higher function
Less sick outs, fewer injuries
Retain staff - job satisfaction increases from 53% to 80%
