Project Description Narrative:
Mental illness is one of the leading causes of disability and death among young adults. For combat veterans, mental health issues and challenges with reintegration to civilian life can have profound consequences on their personal and community health. Veterans returning to civilian life after serving in Afghanistan and Iraq (Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom or OEF/OIF) are at disproportionate risk of developing mental health disorders with life-long consequences for individuals, families and communities.
Veterans face barriers to accessing mental health care, both in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and in civilian care settings. While the VHA is the single largest provider of mental health care for veterans, fewer than 30% of OEF/OIF veterans with new PTSD diagnoses complete the recommend evidence-based treatment within one year. Veterans under age 25, those referred by non-mental health clinics, and those more than 11 miles from a VHA facility were less likely to complete treatment.
Following a growing body of literature suggesting that peer mentorship can reduce individual risk and community burden, this project aims to improve access to trained peer mentor support for younger veterans at risk for mental health problems on college campuses using a combination of face-to-face and smartphone interventions.
Community partners: Edgewood College, Marquette University, Mental Health America of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (Zablocki) VA Medical Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Waukesha County Technical College
Additonal MCW academic partners: Leslie Ruffalo, PhD, Family and Community Medicine; Jeff Whittle, MD, Medicine