The role of peer support in prevention, recovery and return to work

Dr. Beth Milliard is a police officer in her 21st year and is currently serving as a Uniform Staff Sergeant overseeing a platoon. Before returning to uniform duties, she was assigned by her Chief to develop a unit dedicated to the mental wellness of all members and their family.  She also worked as a post-doctoral fellow with the University of Regina in the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT) conducting research in peer support and mental health support for PSP.

Milliard is also an adjunct professor with Georgian College in the Police Studies degree program and previous instructor and creator of the Peer Support Code of Ethics for Public Safety Personnel (PSP) course at Simon Fraser University. Currently she is volunteering with the Mental Health Secretariat (MHS) as the Chair of the Evaluation Advisory Committee (EAT), co-lead for the Peer Support task team and member of the Joint Knowledge Sub-Committee and is the co-chair for the National Peer Support Community Network (PSCN) with Atlas Institute for Veteran’s and Family.

As a subject matter expert and consultant in PSP assessments, safeguard, and peer support, she has had the opportunity to speak at venues internationally, and has been asked to participate in various podcasts on her work as a leader in police wellness. She has been the author and peer reviewer of many articles and book chapters related to PSP mental health and wellness. She is a board member for Canada Beyond the Blue and Resilient Kids Canada. Her PhD is in Criminal Justice/Law and Public Policy with an emphasis in mental health.