Developing a peer support and intervention program to provide emotional and spiritual care for combat and operational stress

This project developed a peer support and intervention program to help military personnel provide emotional and spiritual care to those dealing with combat and operational stress. The individuals were trained as peers at the Spiritual Fitness Division, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic located at Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia. The evaluation consisted of a document review, a pre-workshop questionnaire, a post--workshop questionnaire and one focus group. The workshop was designed to determine if the training prepares military personnel to offer peer support to fellow military members after returning from a deployment where persons experienced combat or operational stress. All individuals experiencing combat and operational stress will not need the same type of support. It is essential that peers understand their role, and learn how to provide support and early interventions. It is hoped that the results of this new program will provide peers with the confidence they need to support and to intervene with their fellow military personnel when needed. It is also hoped that the results of this training program will provide the Navy Chaplain Corps with enough data to duplicate this program at the ten other Spiritual Fitness Divisions in the U.S. Navy.