"Just-in-time" mental health training and surveillance for the Project HOPE mission

Background: Immediately before the first sailing of the USS Mercy/Project HOPE relief mission to Southeast Asia, the mission leadership initiated presailing orientation and training and a program of survey-based health surveillance for mission participants. The training and surveillance efforts included a focus on mental health aspects of the mission. Methods: At the conclusion of the predeployment mental health training, a voluntary, anonymous, predeployment survey was administered to members of the Project HOPE team. A second survey was administered ∼3 months after return from the mission. The surveys were also administered before and after the second sailing of the USS Mercy/Project HOPE mission, although the training was not repeated. Results: The sample size prevented statistical analysis of predeployment and postdeployment rates of illness; however, there was no evidence of incidence beyond population baseline rates. Responses to questions regarding perceptions of mission success and personal achievement were quite favorable, whereas specific questions regarding shipboard resources, training, and professional interactions were met with more variable responses. Conclusions: Response rates suggest a strong interest among participants in efforts to address the Project HOPE program and resources. They also suggest resilience among participants and areas for improvement in communication among participants.