NORWICH – Last week the Chenango County Sheriff's Office hosted a state course titled, "Assisting Individuals in Crisis."

The office offered the classed on May 26 and 27. The NYLEAP (New York Law Enforcement Assistance Program) is the first step in developing a peer support team intended to help our law enforcement officers and other first responders deal with the daily stress, and individual or group crisis that they may experience during their career.

The NYLEAP (New York Law Enforcement Assistance Program) was created by peers for peers, with a mission of improving the mental health of all law enforcement officers, and first responders which will result in the reduction of divorce, alcohol and controlled substance abuse, PTSD, cumulative stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and suicide. NYLEAP helps agencies and their first responders recognize the stress signs and symptoms before things become unmanageable and diminish the alarming statistics by educating and training our first responders to help them live healthier and happier lives.

NYLEAP states their mission "...will not only help our law enforcement officers and first responders with their personal lives, but will make them more productive, and affective at work. This positive result will then improve the relationships within their communities and will ultimately create cost savings for their respected departments."