Emotional Support for Law Enforcement: How Peer Support Teams Help

Peer support teams are an excellent resource for law enforcement officers in a number of different contexts, but for those who are in recovery from substance use disorders and/or in the process of learning how to manage symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression, they can be a critical piece of their recoveries.

Peer support teams are exactly what they sound like: a group of individuals made up of law enforcement officers or first responders who are similarly working to live their lives in recovery. These groups often include people who are new to recovery, those who have relapsed and come back to try again, and those who have years of “clean time” under their belts. The combination of these many and varied unique experiences can be invaluable to all involved. Here are just a few of the benefits that many of the officers who take part in peer support teams report experiencing:

• A sense of normalcy: Addiction is isolating, and so are mental health issues. It is not uncommon to feel as if you are the only one struggling so deeply, especially in a profession where everyone is supposed to be trained to handle anything and everything at all times. Seeing that there are other people like you who have been where you are and are doing better every day, people who are showing up just like you are and trying to make positive choices to improve their lives, can demonstrate that you are not alone.
• An appropriate place to vent: Irritations and frustrations will happen in recovery, and there is no better place to get everything off your chest in a safe forum than in the context of a peer support group.
• The ability to ask questions: It does not matter how big or small, if you have a question about how best to handle something that is going on in your life with an eye toward making positive and healthy choices, peer support teams will often be able to provide a range of responses.
• The option to ask for help: It is not easy to admit every day that you need help, but for many officers in recovery, that is something they have to do in order to maintain their sobriety. A peer support team provides a safe place to do just that.
• The ability to learn from the experiences of others: Others have been where you are and can share their experiences. You may consider options that would not have occurred to you otherwise or sidestep a potential pitfall because of a conversation you have with a peer support team member.
• A solid support system: In the long run, it is the people around you who help you to stay sane and sober, and doing the work that will allow you to feel stable in a life of recovery. Choosing positive people who are similarly working to live balanced and whole lives will increase the likelihood that you will always be inspired to continue on in recovery and to get back on track if you feel yourself going off course.