veteran

Effectiveness of the NAMI Homefront Program for Military and Veteran Families: In-Person and Online Benefits

Psychiatr Serv. 2019 Jul 5. [Pubmed Abstract]

Haselden M, Brister T, Robinson S, Covell N, Pauselli L, Dixon L

Objective
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Homefront, a six-session, peer-taught family education program by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), delivered in person or online, for families or support persons of military service members or of veterans with mental illness.

Methods
Program participants completed online surveys at baseline, at the end of the program (postprogram), and at 3-month follow-up, which measured subjective empowerment, burden, coping, psychological distress, family functioning, experience of caregiving, and knowledge of mental illness. A mixed-effects model examined change over time.

Results
A total of 119 individuals (in person, N=63 [53%]; online, N=56 [47%]) enrolled. Participants showed statistically significant improvement on all dimensions between baseline, postprogram, and follow-up, except for…

VA: Lessons Learned from Two Peer-Led Mutual Support Groups

Lessons Learned from Two Peer-Led Mutual Support Groups

Viverito KM, Cardin SA, Johnson LA, Owen RR

This case report and analysis describe the formation of two peer-led mutual support groups conducted within the context of a Veterans Administration Medical Center. Based on our assessment of the success of one of these groups and the failure of the other, we offer several recommendations and suggestions to help promote this modality. More specifically, we hypothesize that such groups are more likely to be successful (1) if participants are transferred en masse from another group, (2) that, at least initially, housing the group in the same context as formal clinician-led groups or overlapping clinician-led and peer-led groups may help smooth the transition from authority-led treatment to a mutual peer support format, and finally, (3) that prior experiences in interpersonal process groups may promote the skills and cohesion to promote successful transition to mutual support.

Int…

Peer Mentoring African American Veterans to Improve Glucose Control

Long and colleagues compared African American veterans with diabetes aged 50 to 70 years old randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: usual care, a peer mentoring group, and a financial incentives group. Participants in the peer mentoring group showed the most improvement with a reduction in hemoglobin A1c from 9.8% to 8.7% over the 6 month intervention.

Ann Intern Med, March 2012 [Full abstract]