When healers need help: Recovery programs for health care workers offer specialized care

The Peer Support Team at Northwest Fire District connects firefighters with a trained peer support specialist to talk confidentially about mental health. The program also connects firefighters in need with additional resources like therapy and counseling. In an effort to change the mindset most first responders have toward mental health, there are currently 50 trained peer support specialists throughout the state and more than 1,000 across the country.

Tuttleman Counseling Services and the Merakey Mental Health Walk-In Clinic at Temple University offer a variety of mental health services for students on campus, from counseling to yoga and substance use support, serving 30,000 students across the campus.

Outdoor therapy, like hunting trips, rock climbing clinics and weekend hiking adventures, is helping veterans reduce symptoms of PTSD and work through other mental health issues. Several veteran-run groups, like Heroes’ Harvests, have emerged to connect local veterans to these programs and they’ve also begun organizing to pass supportive legislation like the Accelerating Veterans Recovery Outdoors Act, which pushes for the VA to provide veterans with the option for outdoor therapy.

Kokhanyi, ya zhyvu! (Beloved, I Live!) is a free, community-run support program for widows and partners of fallen soldiers. The program combines structured group therapy with physical and ritual activities. Small groups of eight women meet weekly for eight weeks, participating in therapy sessions followed by activities like yoga, archery and art therapy, all led by women with similar lived experiences. Since its launch, 56 women have completed the program.

The Art Experience provides free art therapy classes for caregivers, offering a space for them to gather for respite and creative self-expression. At the classes, caregivers learn mindfulness, self-care practices and meet one-on-one with certified art therapists to discuss their individual situations and learn ways to cope with stress.

Rypins House is a residential treatment home for older adults run by the Progress Foundation that provides access to safe housing, mental health and addiction recovery care. Progress Foundation serves dual-diagnosis patients — those with both a mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorder — and takes a social rehabilitation and harm-reduction approach to care, encouraging residents to take ownership of their recovery.

Rivers of Hope provides counseling and support services to youth who have experienced or witnessed violence at home. A primary goal of Rivers of Hope is to teach youth what healthy relationships look like and empower them to build and seek out healthy connections. The program started in 1991 and provides support and education to about 150 to 200 students each year, free of charge.

Minds United Football Club hosts weekly sessions for people to join together and play football, while also addressing their mental health and well-being. Minds United, and similar sports clubs, aim to create a “we-agency,” providing people with a sense of being part of something bigger than themselves that allows them to feel empowered and supported. Sports groups like Minds United foster community among people who may be experiencing loneliness or mental health issues and are in need of a healthy outlet, particularly for men who face significant mental health stigma.

The David Folaranmi Foundation works to fight drug abuse and help those suffering from addiction through rehabilitation and education efforts. The Foundation connects patients to local rehabilitation centers for free treatment and therapy services. The Foundation also works to empower individuals to gain practical skills to help them reenter society and the workforce. Since forming in 2017, the Foundation has successfully funded the rehabilitation of 66 individuals.

Agencies like the SHARE Center are beginning to hire peer support specialists, who are individuals who have lived experience of recovery from mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Peer support specialists provide non-clinical, strengths-based support and build trusting relationships with those in need of care. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for peer support specialists has grown exponentially and reports show that working with a peer support specialist can improve health outcomes and quality of life among other benefits.