Wounded Veterans Find Peer Support in Virtual Reality Worlds

HONOLULU, Jan. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Injured veterans, along with family and friends, explored new worlds through virtual reality at a recent Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) connection event. Warriors and their families bonded while experiencing the cutting edge of gaming technology.

"Most of the warriors were veterans that I've met before," said Marine Corps Reserve veteran Rolly Alvarado. "So, when we weren't playing, we were talking among ourselves. They're a great group of people, and this event has inspired me to attend other gatherings and programs. Wounded Warrior Project to me, means camaraderie, empowerment, dedication to one another, and improving my outlook on life."

Participants stepped out of everyday life and into a fantasy world for some friendly competition and top-of-the-line virtual experiences, such as boarding a ship as a space pirate, interacting in Doc's lab and with other "Back to the Future" characters, and scoring a mini-golf hole-in-one.

Using virtual reality and socializing with other veterans can help injured warriors cope with stress and emotional concerns. In a WWP survey (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/survey) of the injured warriors it serves, more than half of survey respondents (51.6 percent) expressed they talk with fellow veterans to address their mental health issues, and nearly one in three (30.3 percent) indicated physical activity helps.

WWP program events like this give wounded warriors an opportunity to experience veteran peer support firsthand. These social gatherings get them out of the house and connect them with fellow service members and their communities.

"The event was incredibly entertaining, a good workout, and my group had an amazing time," Rolly said. "The uniqueness of the event motivated me to sign up."

Thanks to generous donors, WWP can serve warriors by connecting them with one another and their communities. Programs also focus on mental and physical health and wellness, financial wellness, independence, government relations, and community relations and partnerships.

To learn more about how WWP's programs and services connect, serve, and empower wounded warriors, visit http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org, and click on multimedia.

About Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) connects, serves, and empowers wounded warriors. Read more at http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/about-us.

SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project