Unit Updates #1: Peer Counseling Unit
The Federal Investigation Bureau has announced a very progressive and a helpful unit. The Peer Counseling Unit. The goal of this unit is to give FIB members an option to either help others or seek help. Here’s what our interviewer asked Lvuren, a member of the PCU who helped create the unit:
What is this unit’s main goal, in your words?
Dollar: Our main goal is to just make people aware that we all have problems and it’s not wrong or weak to seek out help. We want to provide support to the various members of the FIB
What inspired you to create this unit?
Dollar: I personally have had friends who struggle with mental illness and have chosen to come to me for advise or just someone to talk to, and full disclosure, I’ve been diagnosed with two types of anxiety so for me that was the inspiration. Shawn (PyrosCasket) suggested it after we had a conversation about it.
What is the criteria to be accepted into this unit?
Dollar: The main thing we’re focused on for our applicants is how you deal with other people and your accessibility. We can’t have a counselor that’s had previous disciplinary action taken against them for harassment and bullying. We also have to make sure we have a vast amount of time zones represented because of our multi-national agency.
Who will be the head of the PCU?
Dollar: The heads of PCU I would consider to be Frank and Renjo because they are the founders. Shawn and myself are just counselors, but will probably have a say in whose applications get passed.
How will workers benefit from this unit?
Dollar: Ideally, workers will have a safe space where they can count on someone to be there to listen to their problems. We aren’t professionals obviously, so we can’t do much, but we will lend an ear to show that one doesn’t need to go through their problems alone/in silence
From a worker’s standpoint, I believe this is a great idea. A lot of people at the FIB have problems they need to talk about but don’t due to fear of judgement. Most people at the FIB are young adults and a lot of young adults have mental, anxiety and emotional problems. Now, in no way does the PCU have 100% professional certified therapists, psychologists or other professionals but just talking about problems with a peer really goes a long way to recovery. Peers can relate to one another and one may have more experience with situations and be able to help.
For depression and suicide, in young adults 13.8 percent reported that they had seriously considered attempting suicide. This unit could help our fellow peers in the FIB who seriously consider suicide. We must take these issues seriously and I’m really glad the foundation is taking them seriously by creating this unit. On behalf of the news team, I thank the foundation and PCU staff for helping us.
Source: https://youth.gov/youth-topics/youth-mental-health/prevalance-mental-health-disorders-among-youth