REBOOT Recovery

Current approaches to mental healthcare and suicide prevention are insufficient to meet the growing demand for support, especially among first responders, faith leaders, and health providers. There aren’t enough counselors available, and even if there were, many public servants only feel comfortable speaking to someone with similar life experiences. Therefore, a small group of peers may be the difference between someone seeking help or rejecting the offered help. That’s why REBOOT is mobilizing the largest peer-led response to trauma and suicide ever built through Christian faith-based trauma healing courses. They embed healthy peer leaders within these niche communities to facilitate trauma healing courses and provide ongoing support. Over the last six months, the national 988 suicide crisis line received over 2,200 calls and 3,900 texts from Knox, Anderson, and Sevier counties, with the highest percentage coming from veterans, first responders, medical workers, and their families. Our public servants’ mental and emotional well-being is crucial to our community’s stability and strength. Unfortunately, we are experiencing a mass exodus of workers leaving their careers early due to burnout, unresolved trauma, and compassion fatigue. The most alarming trend is the increase in suicide and addiction among healthcare professionals, with more than half of physicians, nurses, and first responders knowing of a colleague who has either considered, attempted, or died by suicide, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. REBOOT Recovery plans to expand its capacity by collaborating with local congregations, clinics, first responder facilities, and local governments.