One Shot-One Kill: A culturally sensitive program for the warrior culture

Abstract

Despite efforts to reduce the stigma of mental health services across branches of the United States military, lasting change among this warrior culture remains an uphill battle. Diffi culty affecting change can be attributed in part to stigma associated with psychological services and largely, mental health providers' diffi culty tailoring traditional models of treatment to military personnel. We will discuss the development of One Shot - One Kill (OSOK), a culturally sensitive mental health prevention program piloted to reduce stigma and improve help seeking behaviors among the warriorculture. Three hundred and twenty military members completed the OSOK performance enhancement and resiliencyprogram piloted at Tallil, Iraq in 2008. Pilot data were collected to assess military members' perceptions of the training program. Results indicated positive responses demonstrating the OSOK program as a culturally sound program that could increase help seeking behaviors among military members.