How can we listen to their pains when their stories open wounds in us that we are trying to cover up? How can we offer companionship when we want to keep our own self out of the room, and how can we gently touch the vulnerable spots in old people’s lives when we have armored our own vulnerable self with fear and blindness? Only when we enter into solidarity and speak out of common experience, can we help others.
–Henri Nouwen, Psychologist (Notre Dame, Yale, and Harvard)
CONSIDERING PEER SUPPORT?
If your organization is developing a peer support team, selecting who will serve on that team is critical. To develop a team that will be capable, flexible and sustainable, consider these guidelines.
Being a peer supporter is not just about being interested or having the free time to do it. One’s capacity to serve on a peer team is fundamentally tied to their own behavioral health.
Consider the following:
Some additional things to consider as you consider whether you might make a good peer supporter:
Beyond the organizational makeup of your peer team, it’s important to assess the capacity of each individual to serve. Every peer will bring different strengths, challenges and experiences to your team. In evaluating a peer to serve on your team, consider these questions:
1. Is the person passionate about behavioral health and helping others? This is first and foremost. If someone does not grasp the concepts of emotional and behavioral health, or if they do not want to help others, they will not serve the peer team well.
2. Is the person generally liked and respected? The individual should be able to relate positively to others on the job. On the most basic level, is the person accepted by their own peers and within the organization?
3. Is the person willing and eager to serve? Just because an individual is interested in behavioral health and well respected by their crew doesn’t mean they want to serve on a peer team. Serving as a peer is a big emotional and time commitment that is not for everyone. An individual should have an internal desire to serve on the team.
4. Is the person able to serve at this time? Ability to serve on a peer team comes down to a few important factors: time, organization and personal wellness.
Being a peer supporter is not just about being interested or having the free time to do it. One’s capacity to serve on a peer team is fundamentally tied to their own behavioral health.
Consider the following:
- Does the person use coping skills when faced problems or stress? An effective peer supporter will have some go-to hobbies, relaxation strategies or an outlet that helps them cope. They should be comfortable talking about how they personally manage stress.
- Does the person use social support, both at the station and in their personal life? A good peer supporter knows we cannot do it all alone. We all need other people to lean on.
- Does the person strive for work/life balance? While work/life balance can look different for each person, the person should not be married to the job seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Does the person take time off when needed for self-care or pick up every overtime shift to the detriment of their own health, relationships or family’s needs?
Some additional things to consider as you consider whether you might make a good peer supporter:
Beyond the organizational makeup of your peer team, it’s important to assess the capacity of each individual to serve. Every peer will bring different strengths, challenges and experiences to your team. In evaluating a peer to serve on your team, consider these questions:
1. Is the person passionate about behavioral health and helping others? This is first and foremost. If someone does not grasp the concepts of emotional and behavioral health, or if they do not want to help others, they will not serve the peer team well.
2. Is the person generally liked and respected? The individual should be able to relate positively to others on the job. On the most basic level, is the person accepted by their own peers and within the organization?
3. Is the person willing and eager to serve? Just because an individual is interested in behavioral health and well respected by their crew doesn’t mean they want to serve on a peer team. Serving as a peer is a big emotional and time commitment that is not for everyone. An individual should have an internal desire to serve on the team.
4. Is the person able to serve at this time? Ability to serve on a peer team comes down to a few important factors: time, organization and personal wellness.