Ways Rural Group Peer Support Experiences Support PTSD Care

Abstract

Group peer support (GPS) has been shown to improve engagement in mental healthcare for veterans, but little is known about ways rural veterans experience outpatient GPS. This study investigates the lived experience of veterans participating in GPS in the service area of two rural Northern California Veterans Health Administration (VHA) communitybased outpatient clinics (CBOCs). Twenty-nine participants, who attended in-person GPS sessions for at least three months, were consented. Interview responses were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and exported into Atlas.ti to conduct thematic analyses. A phenomenological inquiry revealed three prominent themes and related sub-themes listed in parentheses: (a) GPS encounters leverage shared experience to help participants unlearn detrimental cognitive patterns (conditioned reactivity, structural rigidity) where sustained participation may promote posttraumatic growth (comradery as healing); (b) participation facilitates connection to additional PTSD services (synergy, transformative, continuity of care); and (c) sessions provide therapeutic value that is distinct from clinical approaches (openness, evidenced-based therapy [EBT] experience, guidance versus holistic support). In this sample, GPS diminished social isolation, increased social connectivity, normalized participants' struggles, and helped guide emotion identification, coping, and processing of traumatic experiences. Study findings also illustrated the mechanisms by which participants may seek further multidisciplinary PTSD care within VHA. These findings inform the future design of GPS and can help VHA clinicians and policymakers plan and maximize services along the continuum of PTSD care.