HOW TO break the stigma

How do Peer Support Programs break the stigma around Mental Health in Emergency Responder Culture?

Trauma in Emergency Responders is different. First Responders; police officers, firefighters, EMS workers, and all volunteer and sworn who show up to crisis accumulate critical incident stress. In the past, there was a Stigma around mental health - especially in policing culture.

Officers were encouraged to 'stuff it down' and 'not show it here' (on the job), but we now know there is a better way to keep our front lines resilient and confident on the job. Effective culture change is an essential part of police reform - and it starts from within.

Peer Support programs are powerful to promote mental health awareness and create concrete systems for emergency workers to receive support in managing their mental health and understand warning signs before it's too late.