In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Robyn discuss with retired Firemen/Police Officer Keith Contant. He talks about how he unknowingly was providing peer support. Contant now has taken that to a new level with his organization First Responder Peer Initiative
30 Years of Service
Keith spent 30 years as a Chicago Fireman and part-time Police Officer. Contant got to know how both fields deal with processing or not deal with processing the calls they go on. Struggling at times, he realized he had to change something in him. After his marriage and relationship with his kids fell apart, he started with the EAP via the City of Chicago network.
Seating at the Table versus Sitting in the Squad Car
After a call at a firehouse, you go back to the station and sit around the kitchen table and have a conversation about how the call went, what it made you feel like, and even sit in silence together. As a police officer, after a call, you get back into your squad often alone and key up for the next call. Never really processing the last call or how it made you feel. Keith as a police Sargent would sit behind a building, car to car, and talk with his officers. Processing the call, how it went, how it made him feel, and the officers would at times open up to him. As a superior, this is leadership that came naturally
Guns are pulled less often than a Mental Health Crisis
The reality of how often an officer pulls their gun from the holster or even fires their weapon is rare. Keith mentions he knows cops in Chicago never even pulled their gun their entire career. Mental health struggles are completely different; this happens more often because of the lack of understanding and support.
Peer Support
I wish when I was younger I would have paid attention more~ Keith
It took longer than it should have to understand the importance of peer support. Contant talks about missing signs before getting help and not understanding the importance of having someone to talk to. Find the person you can be vulnerable with, another officer, fireman, family member, retired first responder, or a counselor. Providing support for First Responders is necessary, even more so from the beginning of their career. Coming together with the common struggles can help open up the conversation. First Responder Peer Initiative is there to help start that conversation and support each other.
Mission BBQ
Keith’s girlfriend a community ambassador for Mission BBQ saw the difference he makes in First Responder's life. She started bringing him along to the visits to firehouses, police departments, and veterans centers for him to open the conversation and provide them, with someone, they can relate to. If there is anything we can do, be present in the conversation, allows them to speak, sit there, cry, or get angry, it will help save someone.
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First Responder Peer Initiative
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