Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Project
Dwyer was a U.S. Army medic who became a symbol of American heroism and integrity in the Iraq war. He died at age 31 of an apparent drug overdose after struggling for years with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), drug abuse, unemployment and marital breakdown.
The Joseph P. Dwyer Veteran Peer Support Project is a peer-to-peer program for veterans facing the challenges of PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Launched in 2012 as a pilot partnership between the Suffolk County United Veterans program and the Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency, the Dwyer Project takes a confidential, one-on-one, peer-to-peer approach that has rapidly captured the attention and support of veterans and mental health professionals statewide and across the nation.
Despite an array of programs and services available for veterans, a 2021 community survey conducted by DVS revealed that one out of four New York City-based active-duty service members, reservists, National Guardsmen and veterans said they are lonely three or more days per week. Only one-third of lonely respondents felt as though they had someone they can approach when they are in need; having someone to approach is defined as having a person with whom one can share joys and sorrows on at least three days per week. Moreover, when asked how likely they were to seek help for emotional distress, 40 percent of all lonely respondents reported being somewhat or very unlikely to do so.
The PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program, first established by the state of New York during the 2012-2013 legislative session, aims to reduce veteran isolation and associated mental health issues by having veteran community members meet with fellow members in secure, comfortable settings; this helps them cope with emotional issues caused during or exacerbated by their military service. In essence, the program builds a unique healing community in which veterans and/or their loved ones integrate into a life-affirming support system, enabling them to successfully reset and acclimate to civilian life.
The program has steadily demonstrated the peer-to-peer model holds tremendous value as a tool for helping veterans transition and reintegrate back into civilian life. As of 2023, the program expanded to all 62 counties across New York.
In Warren and Washington counties, the Adirondack Peer-to-Peer Program reaches out to encourage veterans to meet other veterans and take part in events designed to build and sustain a safety net for them. Participants are urged to reach out to other veterans to help spread the word and engage veterans who might otherwise be unaware of the support network available to them. Educational opportunities are a core part of this program.