Feasibility and efficacy of a peer-led recovery group program for warrelated trauma in Libya

After 42 years under the brutal rule of Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi, the people of Libya rose up on 17 February 2011 and demanded change. The 9-month civil war that followed resulted in the deaths of approximately 15,000 Libyans. This study reports on the feasibility and efficacy of a 10-week peer-led group-based recovery intervention for war-related trauma implemented at the Garyounis internally displaced person camp outside of the city of Benghazi. The results of this preliminary assessment show that the use of peers to lead recovery groups for war-related trauma is not only feasible but also appears to be highly efficacious in reducing posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in civilians. The reported subjective experiences of those involved in facilitating the groups suggest that the use of peers, rather than mental health professionals, is a realistic option to minimize the long-term effects of war-related trauma.