I would start by saying that, under the peer support paradigm, no diagnosis is required. The traditional medical model requires a diagnosis and a list of symptoms. Each specific intervention addresses a specific symptom. Conversely, peer support looks at the human being with the initial understanding that a specific incident need not have occurred, a bomb need not have gone off, for example, to recognize that the person has a problem. From the outset, it is understood that the person's problem can be the result of trauma, wear and tear or operational fatigue. It can be related to grief or the moral conflicts that arise when serving the institution.
By broadening our understanding of what contributes to an individual's collapse and psychological illness, we remove judgment. We look at the individual's circumstances with a broader understanding, instead of simply noting traumas. There is a sort of generalized acceptance. In short, our peer helpers are chosen because they understand those dynamics. They don't pass judgment. We look for open-mindedness. There is no doubt that if we were to limit our peer helpers to those who had been in combat, who had a very narrow view of things and who were inclined to pass judgment, the program would not be the same. At least, I would not be choosing those people. Regardless, there are selection criteria. An effort is made to choose someone who is truly open-minded and who understands that whole spectrum of causes.