The REBOOT First Responders Program: Insights of U.S. Graduates.

The REBOOT First Responders program offers spiritual care for occupational stress. Although prior work suggests benefits to the program, no research has considered attendees' experiences in an open-ended way. The aim of this study was to document first responders' thoughts about the effectiveness, evaluation, and effects of the course in their own words. Interviews with 36 graduates living in the U.S. indicated favorable perceptions of the course. Reasons for success included the program's tangible benefits, community atmosphere, and faith-based approach (RQ1). Strengths involved helping first responders realize they are not alone and educating them about trauma; recommended upgrades involved customizing to specific occupations and offering ongoing support (RQ2). Effects included more self-acceptance, enhanced spirituality, better relationships, a more constructive view of trauma, and greater optimism about the future (RQ3). These results have implications for improving spiritual care for first responders.

Spiritual care for combat trauma: A qualitative evaluation of REBOOT Combat Recovery.

Combat trauma experienced in a warzone can hamper the physical, mental, and spiritual health of military service members and Veterans for years afterward. Spiritual care for combat trauma is designed to help service members and Veterans find meaning and purpose in their experiences. One such spiritual care program is REBOOT Combat Recovery, a 12-week, Christian-based course led by trained volunteers across the country. An in-depth investigation of the REBOOT program is needed to advance knowledge of spiritual care for combat trauma and to assess the course in attendees' own words. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 course graduates. Experiences of the course were positive. Interviewees identified the program's emphasis on peer fellowship, spirituality, and the roots of distress as reasons for its effectiveness (RQ1). The most helpful aspects of the program involved the hospitality and family focus; targets for improvement included maintaining fidelity to the curriculum and offering opportunities for continuity upon graduation (RQ2). Interviewees described a variety of ways the course affected their view of self, their relationship with God and others, and their perceptions of combat trauma (RQ3). These findings are valuable for enriching spiritual care, in general, and enhancing the REBOOT Combat Recovery program, in particular.

Moral injury among first responders: Experience, effects, and advice in their own words.

Moral injury is a serious concern among first responders. Not only does moral injury occur with notable frequency among first response groups such as police, fire safety, and emergency medical personnel, but it also poses considerable mental health challenges. Despite a recent explosion of research on moral injury, the literature would benefit from a systematic investigation of how first responders describe their experiences in their own words. We conducted semistructured interviews with 36 graduates of a first responder trauma healing course. Participants described moral injury as (a) a byproduct of being a first responder, (b) occurring frequently but being difficult to identify, and (c) involving feelings of helplessness and guilt. Effects of moral injury included (a) wide-ranging negative consequences, (b) diminished self-esteem, (c) isolation from and suspicion of others, and (d) spiritual distress. When asked about the advice they would give to other people experiencing moral injury, first responders recommended (a) talking openly about the experience of moral injury, (b) being proactive in seeking help, (c) breaking free from the stigma of needing assistance, and (d) building a network of support. Taken together, these results suggest important guidelines for helping first responders cope with the aftermath of moral injury. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).