Consulting Services

Dr. Smith assists fire departments and other public safety organizations embrace and establish their own Peer Support Group and behavioral wellness programs. He served as a firefighter and paramedic for the Indianapolis Fire Department for 31 years, and retired as a Lieutenant. Dr. Smith has first-hand knowledge about integrating mental health and wellness into public safety systems. His mission of getting firefighters the mental health support they need began in 1999 as a member of the Washington Township Fire Department in Indianapolis. He began the conversations of how firefighters can help other firefighters and created the Washington Township Fire Department Peer Support Group. When that department merged with the Indianapolis Fire Department in 2006, he founded the Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD) Peer Support Group.
 

Through his research and personal experience, Dr. Smith recognized the need for a prevention-based model that served everyday firefighter and EMS stress. The Peer Support Group model utilizes peer relationships to encourage a system-wide shift away from the negative stigma of utilization of mental health services. This system not only creates a paradigm shift in the minds of firefighters but is also more responsive to everyday stressors that firefighters may experience and encourages them to seek preventative help. 
 

Dr. Smith is also available to provide consulting services to businesses and corporations that may be interested in how a Peer Support team can function in the workplace.