ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. 鈥� Albuquerque Ambulance has strengthened its peer support program, offering support to paramedics and EMTs facing personal or professional crises.
The team, now comprising 26 trained members with more joining soon, focuses on active listening and peer-to-peer guidance in addressing stress, grief and trauma, reported.
Paramedic Commander Chance Echols knows firsthand how vital that support can be. After a personal tragedy, he turned to the peer team for help and now, he is part of it, trained to support others facing similar emotional tolls.
The peer support members receive specialized training in areas like depression, suicide and childhood trauma. The program is guided by Laura Nguyen, a licensed social worker who oversees training and helps shift the culture around mental health in emergency services.
Nguyen says the goal is not always to solve a problem but often to just listen. Whether it is a difficult call or the weight of everyday life, she emphasizes the importance of addressing stress before it becomes overwhelming.
As the peer support program grows, so does its mission: to create a culture where asking for help is not just accepted but encouraged, ensuring the first responders are also cared for.
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