Social Welfare Professor Evaluates Peer-To-Peer Veteran Support Programs

ALBANY, N.Y. (Feb. 4, 2025) — In 2023, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reported 6,042 deaths by suicide among U.S. veterans during 2021. While services are available to help veterans with their mental health, Eric Hardiman, associate professor in the School of Social Welfare, notes that many veterans avoid traditional provider-delivered mental health services due to stigma, previous negative experiences and excessive paperwork. 

“Veterans repeatedly have told us that they feel misunderstood in the civilian world and struggle with a range of challenges navigating the transition from military to civilian life,” says Hardiman, who has studied peer-to-peer support extensively throughout his social work career. “It’s common amongst the veteran experience to lack a mission or purpose and feel adrift without others who can understand their situation.” 

Hardiman leads an ongoing evaluation of the Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Program, an initiative designed in 2012 by the New York State Office of Mental Health and the State Department of Veterans Services to help veterans overcome these challenges by providing peer-to-peer support and non-clinical services that foster community, connection and well-being. As of 2023, the program is funded in the state budget for all 62 counties in New York.

Fully volunteer-run and requiring minimal paperwork to enroll, veterans can connect with other veterans through the program, attend group meetings, take part in social events, and engage in other opportunities that are offered. Participants can choose their level of involvement, creating a supportive environment free from the stigma often associated with seeking mental health care. As a result, the program has been particularly successful in reaching veterans who might otherwise avoid traditional services. 

“Evaluating the Dwyer program is essential to understanding what works and where we can improve services and reduce barriers,” says Hardiman. 

The evaluation team collects both quantitative and qualitative data, providing a comprehensive view of how each county’s program is being implemented and where adjustments may be needed. They also conduct interviews with program directors and meet weekly with the Office of Mental Health and the Department of Veteran Services. 

“The impact of the program is profound,” Hardiman notes. “Even though it’s difficult to measure the full extent of its success—because the life-changing work these programs do can’t always be quantified—it’s clear that, for many veterans, these programs can mean the difference between life and death; between isolation and connection.”

The evaluation helped to secure permanent and expanded funding in the state budget in 2023, and the team is now publishing about the empirically supported best practices on program development and implementation. 

“It is our hope that expansion beyond New York state will be the next logical step,” Hardiman explains. “There is already a Congressional bill on the docket in Washington D.C. to expand the program nationally. New York has been a pioneer in the use of veteran peer support services, particularly with the Dwyer program. Although most states offer some level of peer support for veterans, New York is the only one with a sustained commitment and a statewide implementation approach. This shows a serious level of commitment to veterans and communities that should be lauded.” 

The Dwyer program also benefits local communities through raising awareness of the needs of the veteran population and helping to build a more supportive environment. 

“Our evaluation has been able to tell the stories of veterans impacted by the program. Whether that is bringing a veteran out of isolation, helping someone avoid self-harm, or creating a more powerful safety and social support net for veterans, the net result is positive,” says Hardiman.

This article was originally published in our 2024 College of Integrated Health Sciences magazine.