Mental Health Outcomes of Peer-led Therapeutic Adventure for Military Veterans

Background: Skepticism of therapy and stigma are significant barriers for veterans with mental health issues. Therapeutic adventure shows promise in addressing veterans’ mental health needs while circumventing the stigma many veterans face in initiating treatment. Purpose: Given the small group model of therapeutic adventure programs, such programs may be ideal to provide social support for veterans and reduce mental health symptomology. The present study investigated: can a brief peer-led therapeutic adventure program modify veterans’ mental health symptoms? Methodology/Approach: The study's sample included 56 participants attending one Sierra Club Military Outdoors trip lasting at least three days and two nights and involving camping. Participants completed study measurements assessing depression, anxiety, stress, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms, substance misuse symptoms, and suicidality at pre-trip, post-trip, one-month post trip, six-months post trip, and 12-months post trip. Six-month and 12-month post-trip data was collected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings/Conclusions: Results indicated significant reduction in mental health symptomology from pre-trip to post-trip, but showed few longer-term changes in mental health symptomology. Implications: The present study's findings are consistent with research suggesting improvements in overall psychological well-being immediately following a nature-based intervention and suggest the need for on-going, community-based interventions to support optimally military veterans’ mental health.

Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Among Native Americans: The Eagle Adventure Program

Eagle Adventure (EA), developed in collaboration between a Tribal Nation and university partners, is based on the Eagle Books published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The books and EA are based in the tradition of Native American storytelling and cultures but speak to all children. EA reinforces making healthy choices to grow-up healthy and prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. EA uses the socioecological model as a framework for program components and social cognitive theory constructs to address behavior change. Since 2010, over 6,000 students have participated in EA in partnership with numerous tribes throughout Oklahoma.

Helping factors in an outdoor adventure program

Summary A number of studies have addressed outdoor and adventure programs over the past 50 years. Despite empirical evidence that demonstrates the personal benefits of group interventions, research investigating the mechanisms responsible for these effects is scarce. This is particularly so for groups in natural outdoor and adventure settings. There is therefore a need to improve our understanding of the processes involved. This research focused on personal and interpersonal processes that occurred during an outdoor group expedition. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 23 subjects aged between 17 and 21 who had participated in an 18-day expedition. The data are examined through a theoretical framework known as “helping factors” often used when studying benefits of a group intervention. Findings The results show that participation in the program promoted self-understanding, interpersonal learning, socializing techniques, and cohesion. Altruism, imitative behavior, universality, and imparting information were also important. As for existential factors, corrective recapitulation of the family, catharsis, and hope, these were rarely mentioned if not absent. Applications The results give a better understanding of the helping factors in such programs and of their potential role in the group process, as well as their application in social work practice.