The Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience is launching their First Priority Peer Support Program for faculty and staff for the first time at UCCS, providing campus employees with a safe, confidential space to receive support from trained colleagues.
The program, which has already proved successful in other organizations including the Colorado Springs Fire Department, the Colorado Department of Transportation and UCHealth Southern Region, aims to reduce faculty and staff stress, trauma, burnout and more by creating spaces where they can vent, talk about stressors, receive support and validation and be connected with other resources. Unless there is imminent risk involved, all Peer Support conversations are fully confidential.
This evidence-informed resiliency and behavioral health initiative can be instrumental in normalizing stress reactions, reducing stigma and barriers to other supports such as professional services and can increase team bonding. The program also also allows for a surveillance approach to stress, and can offer extended individualized support and check-ins in the days, weeks and months to come following a stressful event.
"Peer Support helps create a culture of genuine support and check-ins," said Nicole Weis, Director of Community Training and Empowerment at Lyda Hill Institute. "It encourages us to stop and have real conversations, allow space for our human emotions, and share helpful resources when needed. I've had the privilege of seeing this culture change occur in several organizations and I can't wait to see the impact at UCCS!"
For those interested in becoming a Peer Supporter, the program trains volunteers within an organization by teaching them basic counseling and support skills and providing them with knowledge about stress and psychological trauma related to their occupation. A licensed mental health professional from the Lyda Hill Institute provides the initial training, which takes place over several consecutive days utilizing a cohort model, allowing a group of Peer Supporters to be trained at the same time and creating trust among the group.
This training, which can be conducted in-person or virtually, is open to any faculty and staff with the goal of training 50 Peer Supporters in the next year. To learn more and sign up, contact Nicole Weis.