COVID-19, stress, trauma, and peer support—observations from the field

Beyond morbidity and mortality, COVID-19 broadly affects individuals, families, and communities [1–7]. From the fundamentals of food and housing to threats of disease and death to reported increased cases of domestic violence and suicide, impacts of the pandemic are panoramic. In addition to being widespread, they extend forward to years of economic recovery while the histories of 9/11 and hurricanes forecast delayed and persistent emergence of psychological problems. Surely no panacea, its broad benefits in disease prevention and management, mental health, and community development [8–12] suggests peer support may make substantial contributions to coping with the varied and continuing threats of COVID-19.