A peer support training and supervision program for Veterans and families: Development and preliminary results

Abstract

LAY SUMMARY Behavioural health peer support connects individuals to needed professional services (e.g., counselling) and provides benefits in groups of people that might face more challenges, like military Veterans. Different training exists for peer supporters, but not a lot of information is available to demonstrate whether these trainings, or checking in with trained peers, is helpful. This study took a peer support training program used in fire service and updated it to fit the needs of Veterans and Veteran family members (V/VFM) in Texas, United States. Texas has a lot of Veterans and lacks enough mental health providers (e.g., psychologists). In this study, V/VFM were trained in peer support skills and had six months of peer check-in calls after the training. The trainees completed a test before training asking about their engagement and confidence with helping others, as well as a test after training asking these questions again and assessing satisfaction with training. Results show training was appropriate and acceptable. V/VFM appreciated the check ins and showed increases in confidence in their ability to help others. They tried to help more peers and were more successful when they did reach out. This study describes one way peer support can improve mental health access.