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Peer Support Program
Up one levelWhen To Seek Assistance
- Overwhelming situations impacting you at work, home, or in training.
- Intense feeling of discomfort, stress, or confusion.
- Significant symptoms that persist longer than 6 weeks.
- Suicidal thoughts or planning.
- Other self-destructive behaviors.
- Feel like you are losing control.
- Just want to check in and see if you are OK.
The Peer Support Program is an informal, private opportunity, available 24 hours a day for you to speak to someone like you, to assist with any issues you may be having difficulty with in your life. We are here to help you clarify your concerns and explore your available resources.
Remember that reaching out for help or guidance on an issue is not a weakness in your character. We are here to assist you.
The
Peer Support Program is preventative maintenance. For many of you, just
talking about your problem will help. For others, peer supporters or
"peers", have received formal training in listening skills and are able
to recognize, help to prevent, understand the effects of stress, and
refer you to other assistance, if needed.
The Peer Support
Program is not an element of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), nor
is it a substitute for professional help. The program is an opportunity
available to you for discussing issues or pressures you may encounter
during your attendance and stay here at the FLETC.
The academy
setting could easily be considered a stressor. For many, it is the
difference between a career and a job, the family that is left behind,
the demand placed on individual success, and other personal and/or work
related issues.
Nationwide, law enforcement agencies have been
using peer supporters for several years. Since peers are not mental
health professionals, there is no official record kept of individuals
who use the Peer Support Program. The peers also conduct group sessions
for officers and others that have been involved in a critical incident.
A
critical incident is any event on or off the job that is outside the
realm of your coping mechanisms and that can result in significant
emotional and/or physical reactions.
A critical incident could
have serious effects for those who are directly or indirectly involved
in an incident, to include FLETC employees, Partner Organization staff,
students, members of their respective families, as well as suppliers,
contract personnel, visitors, or the community in general.
Contact Information
ON CENTER – Peer Support for Student, Staff, Contractor, and Families may be reached by calling the following CONFIDENTIAL Numbers
Telephone: (912) 267- 2633
Email: cism@dhs.gov