BRIDGEFORWARD

Peer Support at Work

When someone at work is struggling…they don’t go to a program. They go to a person.

BRIDGEFORWARD equips your workforce with the skills, structure, and support to respond early to mental health, substance use, and suicide risk.

Talk to Our Team →

The Gap Most Organizations Miss

People are struggling, but they’re not using the supports you’ve invested in.

  • EAPs are underutilized

  • Leaders don’t feel equipped

  • Coworkers don’t know what to say

  • Issues escalate before anyone intervenes

Most support happens informally -- between coworkers.

But without training, those moments are missed… or mishandled.

Traditional programs focus on awareness. But awareness alone doesn’t change behavior.

What People Say About BRIDGEFORWARD

“The most powerful suicide prevention strategy in any workplace may be creating a culture where every employee knows at least one coworker who will notice, ask, and be with them through difficult moments.”

— Dr. John Draper, founding and former Director, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline/988

“BRIDGEFORWARD Bootcamp was one of the most impactful trainings I have attended in my career. The critical skills I learned can, will, and do save lives.”

— Jim Gates, Nuclear Security Manager, Xcel Energy, a Fortune 500 company operating in eight states with upwards of $15 billion in annual revenue.

“BRIDGEFORWARD has been a supportive implementation partner — providing guidance, toolkits, and structure while empowering our team to do the hard work of building our unique peer program.”

— Darci Harvey, Director of Integrated Behavioral Health, Advent Health, one of the largest faith-based healthcare systems with over 100,000 teammates nationwide.

Earlier Intervention

We Don’t Just Raise Awareness.

We Build Response Capacity.

BRIDGEFORWARD closes the gap between:

Formal mental health systems

Every day human interactions at work

By training peer supporters, organizations create:

Stronger Trust & Engagement

Reduced Stigma

Peer supporters become trusted, approachable resources who can recognize distress and guide coworkers to help

A More Connected, Resilient Workforce

A Tiered Pathway to Culture Change

Organizations don’t transform in one training. They build capability over time.

  • Build the System

    Build Infrastructure (6–8 Months)

    Implementation of the PILLARS Framework

    • Policy & Procedures

    • Infrastructure & Oversight

    • Legal & Ethical Safeguards

    • Leadership Commitment

    • Assessment & Training

    • Referral System Supervision &

    • Sustainability

    Ongoing Activities

    • Virtual training on trauma, suicide prevention, and substance use

    • Coaching and mentorship for Peer Supporters and leadership

    • Continuous implementation support and consultation

    Outcome:

    • Consistent skill reinforcement

    • Leadership buy-in

    • Sustainable recruitment pipeline

    • More confident, capable Peer Supporters

    Full Culture Integration (8-18 Months)

    • Ongoing in-person training + reflection sessions

    • Program evaluation + impact tracking

    • Structured peer support network

    • Advanced certifications (optional)

    Outcome:

    • Fully operational peer support system

    • Measurable culture change

    • Long-term sustainability

  • Build Peer Support Skills

    Foundational BRIDGEFORWARD Peer Supporter Bootcamp

    A 2-day intensive training that equips 20–30 employees with the core skills of peer support, mental health literacy, and ethical boundaries

    Participants learn to:

    • Recognize signs of distress

    • Listen without trying to fix

    • Respond with confidence and care

    • Connect coworkers to resources

    • Stay within scope (not therapists)

    Outcome:

    • A trained group of Peer Supporters ready to support others

    • A visible shift toward a culture of care

  • Create Awareness & Urgency

    Best for: Entire workforce, leadership events, conferences

    Purpose:

    • Shift mindset

    • Reduce stigma

    • Create emotional connection

    • Introduce peer support as a solution

WHY THIS WORKS

Two coworkers having a conversation

Peer support works because:

People trust peers more than authority figures

Support happens earlier

Stigma is reduced

Recovery and retention improve

Research shows peer programs:

Increase engagement

Improve retention

Reduce escalation of crises

Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, Psy.D.

Clinical psychologist, impact entrepreneur, and leader in workplace suicide prevention. Known for translating lived experience into actionable culture change.

sallyspencerthomas.com →

Sarah Gaer, MA

Nationally recognized trainer in trauma and crisis response with decades of experience building peer support systems that work in high-risk environments.

sarahgaer.com →

HOW TO GET STARTED

Start Where You Are

Whether you’re just beginning the conversation or ready to build a full program, we’ll meet you where you are and help you take the next step

‍References Supporting Peer Support at Work

Ali, A., Tang, T., Kudish, M., Bennett, L., Varano, K., & Smith, R. (2019). Mental health peer support: A review of the evidence for workplace settings [Report]. New York University; National Alliance on Mental Illness – New York City; Mental Health Innovations; Wellcome. https://wellcome.org/reports/understanding-what-works-workplace-mental-health

Gosselin, T., Pickett, L., Oliver, J., & Gross, M. (2025). Caring for each other: An evaluation of a peer support program for nurses and health care workers. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 40(2), 181–186. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000834

Kim, B., Park, H., Kim, J. I., Oh, S., Moon, S. Y., Lee, J.-H., & Kim, J. H. (2025). Role of peer support in mitigating PTSD and suicide risk among firefighters experiencing colleagues' death. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 38(2), 220–230. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.21685

Milliard, B. (2020). Utilization and impact of peer-support programs on police officers' mental health. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 1686. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01686

Morris, D., Sveticic, J., Grice, D., Turner, K., & Graham, N. (2022). Collaborative approach to supporting staff in a mental healthcare setting: "Always There" peer support program. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 43(1), 42–50. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2021.1953651

Reisinger, B. A. A., Conboy, L., Bellchambers, M. S., & Gleaves, D. H. (2026). Mental health stigma reduction interventions within workplace and industry settings: A systematic umbrella review. Discover Psychology, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-026-00718-3

Sokol, R., & Fisher, E. (2016). Peer support for the hardly reached: A systematic review. American Journal of Public Health, 106(7), e1–e8. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303180

Sun, J., Yin, X., Li, C., Liu, W., & Sun, H. (2022). Stigma and peer-led interventions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, Article 915617. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.915617

vonRosenberg, J. (2022). The impact of peer support on chronic job stressors. Air Medical Journal, 41(1), 34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amj.2021.11.016

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