Peer Support That Lasts
Class Description
Establishing a peer team is often the first step in building a mental health support program within a fire department—but creating the team is only the beginning. In this session, Mike Wells, Beth Flaherty, and Jim Burneka explore the next critical steps: building trust between the field and peer team members, maintaining credibility, and ensuring the team becomes a reliable resource firefighters are willing to use. The panel will also address one of the most overlooked challenges in peer support—how team members protect their own mental health and avoid burnout while helping others. Attendees will gain practical insight into building a peer support program that is trusted, sustainable, and resilient for the long term.
Speakers
