YOU’RE THERE FOR US FIRST
WE’RE HERE FOR YOU NOW
STAY FIT FOR DUTY
WITH FIRST RESPONDER PEER SUPPORT
You’ve landed here for a reason. Maybe you can’t sleep. Or you’re more edgy than usual. It could be your partner says you’re distant or you keep snapping at your kids. Maybe it just feels like burnout. And odds are, you feel like you can’t risk talking about it.
You’re not alone.
The reason we’re here for you now is because we’ve also been where you are. First Responder Peer Support is made up of trained peer specialists, who are current or former first responders or members of the military. We are here to provide confidential and free support – to you or members of your family. That means less explaining, better understanding and more useful help.
It’s time to talk about it. Consider it preventative maintenance. It’s a way to let some pressure out of the gauge, to keep work from getting in the way of your personal life, and to stay fit for continued duty.
CONNECT WITH A FIRST RESPONDER PEER SPECIALIST
You’ll be paired with a trained peer specialist located near you who will listen, offer support, and can identify other resources that may be available to you.
WHO IT‘S FOR
This confidential, free program is available to all current and former first responders, as well as their immediate family members, within a 20-county area throughout Northeast and Northern Central Florida.
Although there are many definitions of first responders, this program is designed for current or former firefighters, police officers, sheriffs, emergency medical services personnel, and emergency dispatchers/telecommunications operators. If you don’t fall into one of these lines of service or you live outside one of the counties served, we can still connect you to other support services. If you are a family member of a current or former first responder, we’re here for you too – even if your first responder isn’t interested in help for themselves.
Counties Served: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Nassau, Putnam, Suwannee, St. Johns, Taylor, Union, and Volusia.
HOW IT WORKS
As a first responder, you regularly answer calls that can impact your safety, your sense of humanity and justice, and your capacity for empathy. That means switching from being on-duty to off-duty is not easy. Statistically, first responders and dispatchers have higher rates of relationship issues, alcohol or drug abuse, and suicide attempts and completions.
The First Responder Peer Support Program provides a confidential opportunity to deal with whatever you have going on – whether it’s fallout from the wear-and-tear of the job or aspects of your personal life that simply add to your load. You can talk privately with someone who has been there and gets it.
Step 1: Dial 211. This is the gateway to peer support and other community resources.
Step 2: Identify yourself as a current or former first responder, or a member of a first responder family, then answer a few screening questions.
Step 3: You will either be paired with a First Responder Peer Specialist immediately or one will call you back within 24 hours.
Step 4: Your peer specialist will schedule a confidential phone or video conference appointment and listen to what is going on with you and your family. They can also connect you to any other resources you may need.
Step 5: Your peer specialist will follow up with regular check-ins over a period of six months to one year.
WHY PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS GET IT
BRIDGET’S STORY:
Bridget grew up watching her mother rush to emergencies. As the daughter of an EMT, she often rode along when calls came in, witnessing tragedy firsthand. It never scared her – it inspired her. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Bridget became an EMT. She thrived in the fast-paced world of split-second decisions. But when a painful divorce uprooted her life and brought her to Florida, something shifted. No longer working in the job that gave her meaning, her life felt empty. It wasn’t until she discovered LSF Health Systems’ First Responder Peer Support Program that she found the help she needed. Week after week, she sat with a peer support specialist, someone who understood the weight she carried. Slowly, she found connection, strength and most of all, purpose. Now, Bridget is taking a different brand of calls – not as an EMT, but as a peer support specialist herself, helping other first responders find their way back to the light.
“We shouldn’t have to suffer in silence.” – Bridget Wick
BRANNON’S STORY:
Brannon felt like no one understood him. For years, he bottled up his emotions while working in law enforcement. It only worked for so long. In 2007, Brannon’s son died by suicide. Subsequently, Brannon’s mental health took a turn for the worse in the following years. When he finally reached out for help within his agency, he was told to wait. Forty-seven days passed before he saw a therapist. But when the appointment finally came, it was clear she wasn’t equipped to handle the unique challenges first responders face. Feeling hopeless and alone, he made a plan to take his own life.
But in the midst of his lowest moment, a simple text from his daughter changed everything. Brannon knew he couldn’t go through with it, but he also knew he needed to seek help elsewhere. And he sought in those around him. Today, Brannon is a peer support specialist with the First Responder Peer Support Program. He vowed to ensure no other first responder feels as lost as he once did. Through his work, he helps others find hope, reminding them that they are never truly alone.
“This is very serious to me, it’s very real.” -Brannon Hicks
BE PROACTIVE – CONTACT FIRST RESPONDER
PEER SUPPORT TODAY BY CALLING 211
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing special accommodations to participate in any meeting/hearing should contact LSF Health Systems at 904-900-1075 for assistance.
ccbhc.org
904.412.6873
Serving: Clay County
HereTomorrow.org
904.372.9087
Serving: Baker, Bradford, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam & Saint Johns Counties
VolusiaRecoveryAlliance.org
386.777.PEER
Serving: Volusia County
ZeroHourLifeCenter.org
352.765.4943
Serving: Alachua, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Suwanee, Taylor & Union Counties
LivingHope1.com
386.302.6990
Serving: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Suwanee, Madison, and Taylor Counties
Stay Fit For Duty