Survivors of servicemembers who died while in service or of service-related causes are eligible to participate in a pilot program that will assist them in the grieving process while examining examining grief-related challenges.
Columbia University and the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University are collaborating to conduct the Stepping Forward in Grief study, which will use mobile and web-guided applications to help people manage their grief. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the online or app programs, which were created by scientists and clinicians from the universities. Enrollment ends June 30 and is open to family members as well as friends, battle buddies, and unit members of the deceased.
The Department of Defense's Medical Research Program awarded a $3 million, four-year grant for the study, with a goal of developing evidence-based resources for people who are bereaved in years to come.
[RELATED: MOAA's Survivor's Checklist: First Steps for Moving On]
Interested participants can enroll by visiting the website and clicking “Enroll Now.” Participants will begin with screening questions, fill out an online consent form, and complete a 20-minute survey. Representatives from the study will reach out to participants to complete screening and enrollment over the phone.
Once enrolled, participants will have access to the assigned program for six months. They will be asked to provide feedback about their experience.
Amanda Dolasinski is MOAA's staff writer. She can be reached at amandad@moaa.org. Follow her on Twitter @AmandaMOAA.
