What is it about?

This paper examines the Stack Up Overwatch Program (StOP), an online support program for military and veteran gamers. The paper describes a program evaluation that focuses on whether the program met its goals, including helping users feel connected, offering 24/7 support, and providing a safe space for discussing mental health issues. The study used a survey, interviews, and chat logs to evaluate the program's impact on users' mental well-being and feelings of connectedness. The results show that StOP successfully met its goals, especially in supporting the unique mental health needs of military and veteran users.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

The study is important because it shows how online gaming communities can provide mental health support, especially for military and veterans. Stack Up Overwatch Program (StOP) is unique because it uses a gaming platform to offer 24/7 peer support, helping users feel less alone and more connected. It highlights a new way to reach people who might not access traditional mental health services, especially during times when in-person help is hard to get. The findings suggest that online peer support can effectively meet mental health needs, offering a timely and accessible option for those who need it.

Perspectives

This was such an exciting study to lead and a goal of mine ever since I learned of Stack Up. I think peer support interventions have the potential to help people make changes they might not be able to make otherwise. This project has spurred a lot of interest from other researchers and the press, and I hope readers will be able to use it for inspiration for their own work.

Michelle Colder Carras
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: “Instead, You’re Going to a Friend”: Evaluation of a Community-Developed, Peer-Delivered Online Crisis Prevention Intervention, Psychiatric Services, July 2024, American Psychiatric Association,
DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.20230233.
You can read the full text:

Read

Contributors

The following have contributed to this page