How to Promote Peer Support in a Skeptical Culture

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Skeptical culture? Stigma? Silence? Learn how to promote peer support in a way your department will actually hear. Retired Sgt. Gabe Lira shares real solutions that work.

How do you promote peer support without sounding like HR or a TED Talk?

It’s one thing to build a peer support team. It’s another thing to get your department to trust it. If you’ve ever hit resistance, heard the line “We don’t need that,” or wondered how to shift the culture without sounding out of touch, this episode is for you.

Gabe Lira joins me today with over 30 years of military and law enforcement experience, including building one of the first peer support teams in Southern California and co-founding the Public Safety Peer Support Association. Gabe understands firsthand what it takes to earn buy-in from the ground up, and he shares practical tools, common mistakes, and what works when you’re introducing peer support to a skeptical audience.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN:

• What to expect when your department pushes back
• Smart ways to introduce peer support that don’t sound like a lecture
• How to get buy-in from leadership and frontline staff alike

If you’re building or growing a team and facing resistance, this conversation is exactly what you need.

CONNECT WITH GABE

EMAIL: [e-mail]
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabe-lira-62b243247/
WEBSITE: https://www.firstresponderpsych.com

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Public Safety Peer Support Association: https://pspsa.org/

This 3-day course, hosted by the Atascocita Fire Department, will teach you how to support your peers through effective communication, emotional resilience, and understanding the psychological impact of crises.

Register for this training. https://stresscaredoc.com/atascocita-grin

Dates: January 6-8, 2026
Times: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM each day
Location: Atascocita Fire Admin Building

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Connect with Bart

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bartleger

Facebook Page: facebook.com/survivingyourshift

Website: survivingyourshift.com

Want to find out how I can help you build a peer support program in your organization or provide training? Schedule a no-obligation call or Zoom meeting with me here.