The operational definitions of peer support vary in the literature from focused support of co-workers/friends, people with disabilities or in recovery, support groups, to trained peer counselors. The Wisdom and Wellbeing Program uses co-worker peer support as an essential component of unit cohesion and social support in high stress exposure teams and to build strengths to mitigate stress-related challenges and injury. A primary advantage of co-worker peer support is that it is available when needed and provided by those who “get” the context of the stress experience. Co-worker peer support uses wisdom practices and stress first aid as bystander interventions and is different from therapeutic peer counselors or peer crisis teams. In the Wisdom and Wellbeing Program approach we are all peers of each other; regardless of our titles or roles. As peers, we need to be knowledgeable about self-care and peer care strategies that build resilience, be able to recognize when a peer has a stress injury, know how to support a peer when stress is taking a toll, and know at least two support resources that we would offer a peer. Below is a list of activities that help to build and sustain peer support.

  • Huddle “Shout Out”
  • High Five (incoming to outgoing shift)
  • Appreciation Board in the STBICU
  • “Stickie’s of Sensationalism”
  • Gratitude Journal collective
  • Appreciative Check IN – start meetings with "what's gone well this week?"
  • Positive Pause during M&M: what went well
  • Rescue Step for M&M: what kept this from being the worst outcome?
  • Wall of Fame – post pictures and letters when former patients come back to visit
  • Positive M&M: 1 M&M out of 4 focused on a case that went really well, dissecting that for best practices
  • Leadership Rounds Shout Out
  • Point out the positives Friday: collective email “shout outs” every Friday
  • Good Catch Emails
  • Good Catch – Fish Bowl
  • Gratitude Journal
  • Environmental Prompts: 
  • Group Emails – Go out every day, or 3 days a week, everyone on the group list provides 3-5 things they are grateful for
  • Good Catch: Teams can vote, or there can be a drawing and team members get a coffee card, other prizes once a week/once a month etc.…..