Launching: Thursday 3rd September, 12-1pm

  • Online via Teams
  • Free to attend 
  • For First Aiders, Mental Health First Aiders, volunteer responders and emergency service professionals 

 

Join the Peer Support for First Aiders Network

 

The Peer Support for First Aiders Network 

With-you’s Peer Support for First Aiders Network is a new online community offering connection, shared understanding, and exploration of how peer based & trauma informed approaches can support recovery after a critical incident and form an essential part of responsible First Aid culture. 

Responding to a serious incident can have an emotional and psychological impact long after the immediate emergency has passed. Yet support for the person who stepped in to help is often limited. 

The network has been created to provide a safe, supportive space to connect with others who understand, reflect on difficult experiences and explore practical ways to look after ourselves and one another.

 

Who is the network for? 

  • Workplace First Aiders & Mental Health First Aiders 
  • Volunteer and Community First Responders 
  • Professional Emergency Services personnel 
  • Others with First Aid or emergency response responsibilities 

You might be new to the role, have many years of experience, or simply want to feel better prepared for the impact that responding to an emergency can sometimes have. 

You do not need to have experienced a traumatic incident to take part.

 

What to expect 

The network will provide opportunities to: 

  • Connect with others who understand the realities of First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, and emergency response 
  • Explore the emotional impact of responding to serious incidents 
  • Share experiences in a respectful, non-judgemental space 
  • Learn practical approaches to post-incident wellbeing and self-care 
  • Build understanding of trauma-informed and peer support approaches 
  • Share useful resources, ideas and learning 

There is no expectation to share personal experiences or details of incidents. You are welcome to participate in whatever way feels comfortable. 

The network is not a replacement for professional mental health support or formal organisational procedures. It is a space for peer connection, shared understanding and mutual support. 

 

Why this network matters 

First Aiders and Mental Health First Aiders are often focused entirely on the person who needs help. What happens to them afterwards can receive far less attention. 

Serious incidents such as cardiac arrests, suicide attempts, road traffic collisions and major injuries can have a lasting impact on those who witness or respond to them. Despite this, clear post-incident support pathways are not always available. 

Peer support can help bridge that gap by bringing people together through shared understanding, connection and mutuality. 

The Peer Support for First Aiders Network aims to help build a culture where supporting the wellbeing of the responder is recognised as an important part of responding well to emergencies. 

 

Join our first meet-up

Our first meeting will introduce the network, explore what effective peer support for First Aiders and Mental Health First Aiders can look like and give participants an opportunity to help shape how the network develops.