Wisdom, Wellbeing, and Peer Support Training (WWPST) provides a comprehensive approach to fostering skills for healthcare professionals and support personnel dedicated to providing quality care to patients and families. This three-tiered training program is designed to build the capacity for resilience and peer support at the individual, workplace/practice setting, and institution levels.
Tier 1: Individual awareness. All workers in health care settings can increase awareness and skill building to develop insights and perspectives that can foster resilience and peer support, including the early recognition of potential stress injury in a peer or loved one.
Tier 2: Workplace & Work Unit Peer Support. This training tier is for health system leaders or self-selected (or manager selected) team members who are interested in serving as a skilled resource or peer supporter for their colleagues and team. The training builds on the Tier 1 knowledge and skills to assess for gaps in resources and strengthen approaches that foster a peer support network in the workplace setting. These individuals can also become part of a regional (even national!) peer support network.
Tier 3: Institutional Commitment to Peer Support. Through a Train-the-Trainer (T3) program for an organization and its workplace/work unit teams, leaders can develop advanced WWPST skills, resources and develop a capacity building plan of action for the organization/institution.
How do I become a Peer Supporter (Peer Rep, for short)?
If you are interested in supporting the well-being of your team members, you should consider becoming a Wisdom and Wellbeing Peer Supporter! A Peer Supporter needs to know the basic concepts and the vocabulary of Stress First Aid, peer support, and wisdom. As a peer, you can appreciate the strengths and challenges of your colleagues, understand what may help in the moment, and recognize when additional support needs to be requested. The goals of the Wisdom & Wellbeing Peer Supporter (Tier 2) training include:
1. Develop an increased awareness and knowledge of resources to help those in distress;
2. Identify gaps in stress support resources on your unit and learn ways to fill them; and
3. Promote peer support within your work sphere, receive ongoing training refreshers, and be part of a network of peer supporters.