(left to right) Canines Jackson, Ember, Bruno, Milo, Ava, Tiller and Echo.
In recognition of National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, the County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD) is proud to spotlight the Wellness Division’s Peer Support Section for its essential role in Departmental operations and more importantly the wellbeing of the individuals in- and outside of Los Angeles County.
Over 200 highly behavioral health trained individuals, including active and retired first responders (e.g., lifeguards, firefighters, fire captains and battalion chiefs) professional personnel, and seven support canines, make up the Peer Support Section.
These dedicated individuals are trained and skilled to respond to critical behavioral health incidents in the field, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidal emotions, alcoholism, workplace stress, and family and/or marital dynamics, to name a few.
The team participates in ongoing trainings and continued education to offer the most up-to-date care to Department personnel. They maintain confidential peer support communications and thoroughly review all available resources to better serve all LACoFD personnel. Their ultimate goal is for the entire Department to receive the utmost care.
Peer Support also conducts Recruit Wellness Day for each LACoFD firefighter recruit class prior to their academy graduation. This informative overview offers all resources and an emotional check-in before the recruits become official probationary firefighters. Also, they provide a brief training for newly promoted captains and battalion chiefs as well as retirees. They strive to ensure all personnel is aware that there is a team dedicated to their emotional and mental health.
“We take trainings seriously and strive to normalize peer support and behavioral health for each of our team members!” said Peer Support Coordinator, Fire Captain Scott Ross. “From the beginning to the end of a new personnel’s time with the LACoFD. We have peers that can guide them every step of the way. Therefore, our team members are dynamic and multifaceted to represent the Department personnel we support.”
Retired LACoFD Deputy Chief Melvin Hokanson founded the Peer Support Section, comprised of 40 members, in the late 1980s. Fast forward to 2019, the team was honored with the Meritorious Service Award from the Public Safety Peer Support Association. Since then, the Section has grown to be the largest peer support team in the Country.
To become a volunteer Peer Support team member or for information about available resources, please email Fire-PeerSupport@fire.lacounty.gov.
