Rapid expansion of the Healing Emotional Lives of Peers program during COVID-19: a second victim peer support program for healthcare professionals.
Peer support programs are increasingly used to support providers experiencing emotional or psychological distress after involvement in an adverse event. This article describes the Healing Emotional Lives of Peers (HELP) peer support program, which includes psychological first aid, one-on-one peer support, and supportive resources. The article also describes its implementation at one academic medical center. Qualitative feedback from participants who completed a self-assessment indicate that the program promotes a culture of safety and supports judgement-free support.