Getting Help for Yourself and Others
If life threatening/potential immediate risk for harm to self or others
- Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room or treatment center
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- Call the Hotline 800-273-TALK (8255). Veterans, extension 1
- Text TALK to 741741 and chat with a trained crisis counselor 24/7 from the Crisis Text Line for free.
- When Someone is at Risk
If drug or alcohol related
Call the AANA Peer Assistance Helpline for any and all aspects related to CRNA/SRNA impairment or suspicion of drug diversion:
- AANA Peer Assistance Helpline* 24/7 confidential live support and resources 800-654-5167
- Signs and behaviors to identify impairment and/or drug diversion
- Before any confrontation, see Intervention Essentials and contact the AANA Peer Assistance Helpline
- Addiction Treatment - Treatment recommendations specific for anesthesia professionals and list of programs with experience treating healthcare professionals
- In the Workplace:
- Call the AANA Peer Assistance Helpline
- Follow workplace policies
- Contact an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) representative; your Human Resources department can provide information on EAP availability
- Substance Use Disorder Workplace Resources
- Post Treatment Resources
- Ongoing peer support from Anesthetists in Recovery (AIR)
- Re-Entry to Work Recommendations and Resources
If help needed is not related to an alcohol or drug issue, some options include
- COVID-19 related stressors, peer support, tips to support a colleague, and info on tele-therapy, see COVID-19 Well-being
- RAINN National Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Hotline 800-656-4673
- National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or TTY 800-787-3224
If you are in imminent danger, call 911. - See Wellness in the Workplace for additional
resources regarding:
- Adverse events/critical incidents
- Bullying/disruptive behavior
- Career transitions
- Fatigue/sleep
- Stress management
- Emotional and Mental Well-Being and Physical Well-Being
- Practice questions such as scope, standards, position statements, and facility policy development: Contact the AANA Professional Practice Division at practice@aana.com or 847-655-8870.
Resources to help create a substance use disorder policy, including a planned intervention process, can be found at Substance Use Disorder Workplace Resources.
See also Peer Assistance FAQs.
AANA Peer Assistance - Laminated wallet card
Visit the AANA Bookstore under "Free Member Resources" to order Helpline cards in packs of 25.
Wallet Cards
* AANA Peer Support
AANA Peer Assistance is intended to provide resources and act as an information center for the purpose of providing helpful peer support to CRNAs in need of assistance for chemical dependency/substance use disorder (SUD). Although the program is administered by trained volunteers, it is not a professional treatment or counseling program. No person associated with the Helpline, including any AANA staff or volunteer, is authorized to make a medical diagnosis, provide professional therapy, treatment or counseling, or provide legal or other professional advice of any kind. Please consult your personal medical provider or legal counsel for all such services. In addition, with the limited exception of anonymous demographic data, which is maintained for reporting purposes only, all information provided by a person contacting the Helpline will be kept confidential to the extent required by applicable laws. However, please note that all AANA staff and volunteers are required to comply fully with all applicable state laws regarding mandated reporting.