New peer-to-peer support program is helping St. Lucie firefighters through difficult times

A new peer-to-peer program is providing St.

Lucie Fire personnel with much-needed resources during difficult times.

SUPPRORT..

FOR LOCAL FIRSTRESPONDERS.

A NEW PEER-TO-PEERPROGRAM IS PROVIDING ST LUCIEFIRE PERSONNEL WITH AMUCH-NEEDED RESOURCES DURINGDIFFICULT TIMES.

WPTVNEWSCHANNEL 5'S DEREK LOWESPOKE TO THREE FIREFIGHTERSRECENTLY RECOGNIZED FOR THEIWORK.<< LL TOP: THE FIREFIGHTERSHERE TONIGHT TOLD ME THATTWICE AS MANY FIREFIGHTERSDIED BY SUICIDE IN 2019 THANDIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

ATREND THAT THEY ARE WORKING TOEND.

PKG: 32:32 RUSTY WILES,FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC A LOT OFPEOPLE DON'T WANT TO COMEFORWARD WITH IT AND THAT'S WHYI'M TRYING TO COME FORWARD TOSHOW PEOPLE, YOU'RE NOT WEAKAND IT'S OKAY TO GET HELP.INSIDE THIS ST.

LUCIE COUNTYFIRE STATION, THERE'S A BONDBETWEEN BROTHERS AND SISTERSONLY THEY CAN UNDERSTAND.11:00 AARON SHAW, DIVISIONCHIEF FIREFIGHTERS KNOW WHATOTHER FIREFIGHTERS GO THROUGH.AND IF NOTHING ELSE, IT'S JUSTA WAY FOR US TO VENT AND SPEAKTO EACH OTHER.

AND TO HELPEACH FIREFIGHTER COPE WITHSTRESS... A NEW PEER TO PEERSUPPORT PROGRAM IS BEINGFORMED.

21:42 JESSE ALMAND,LIEUTENANT, COMMUNITY RISKREDUCTION DIVISION IT COULD BEA PHONE CONVERSATION, FACE TOFACE, WE HAVE MEMBERS MAKEHOME VISITS.

THIS WEEK - AARONSHAW, RUSTY WILES, AND JESSEALMAND WERE ALL RECOGNIZED FORTHEIR WORK WITH THE FIREDISTRICT'S EXISTING MENTALHEALTH AWARENESS PROGRAMS.13:40 AARON SHAW, DIVISIONCHIEF I WAS ASKED TWO YEARSAGO BY THE FIRE CHIEF TO TAKEOUR CURRENT PROGRAMS WHEN ITCAME TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ANDIMPROVE AND EXPAND THEM.ALMAND SAYS HE AND SHAW CHOSEA SELECT GROUP OF PEOPLE TOLEAD THE PROGRAM.

26:40 JESSEALMAND, LIEUTENANT, COMMUNITYRISK REDUCTION DIVISION ONCEYOU ARE COMMUNICATING WITH ANINDIVIDUAL, YOU'RE ALMOST APERSON'S BUDDY.

YOU'RE GOINGTO STICK WITH THEM AND SEETHEM THROUGH THE PROCESS.WILES SAYS HE WAS DIAGNOSEDWITH PTSD IN 2019 AND WANTS TOHELP HIS FIREFIGHTING FAMILYTO KNOW THEY ARE NOT ALONE.36:59 RUSTY WILES, FIREFIGHTERPARAMEDIC WHEN ALL OF US GOTHIRED, IT WAS JUST 'YOU'REGOING TO SEE SOME BAD THINGS.JUST MOVE ON,' WELL NOW WE'REFINDING OUT THAT DOESN'T WORK.LL TAG: AND ALMAND SAYS THECONVERSATIONS DON'T HAVE TO BESTRICTLY FIRE RELATED AND THATANYTHING WEIGHING ON THESHOULDERS OF HIS BROTHERS ANDSISTERS CAN BE TALKED OVER.REPORTING IN FORT PIERCE, IMDL, WPTV NC 5.