The impact of in-service physical injury or illness on the mental health of military veterans

Abstract

BackgroundEach year approximately 2000 UK service personnel are medically discharged with physical and/or psychological injury or illness. While there is much research on both psychological injury and physical injury, the challenges of transition relating to the intersection between the two has received less attention. This article reports on the first phase of a 2-year funded study with the aim to understand the lived experiences of veterans who have been discharged from service with a physical injury or illness and the impacts of this on their mental health.MethodsUsing a qualitative methodology, 22 veterans who had been discharged from service within the last 8 years were interviewed to identify key aspects of their experience of the transition process.ResultsThe article highlights two key themes: how some veterans adjusted to life with a physical injury or condition; and, the intersections that became apparent between physical injury and mental health. The challenges that veterans faced were shaped by the transition process and by the way in which the medical discharge process was conducted.ConclusionsConsideration of improvements to the medical discharge process could influence better outcomes for those who have left with a physical injury or illness and later find themselves struggling with mental health issues.

The effects of masculine honor beliefs and beliefs in mental health stigma on honoring and supporting physical versus psychological injury in the military.

“…This research approached physical and psychological injuries as distinct conditions to increase the experimental control and internal validity of these studies, but they often coexist (e.g., Hynes et al, 2023). Despite our efforts to recruit equal numbers of military and civilian participants in each study, only 20%–30% of participants were military personnel in either study, which allowed for surface-level comparisons that should, ideally, be replicated with larger sample sizes.…”

“…Although this research investigated perceptions of military injuries, it focused more on psychological injuries than physical injuries because of the lack of representation of psychological injuries (e.g., PTSD) in military honors and greater mental health stigma, especially in the military. As such, the current research approached these injuries as distinct rather than as coexisting (see Hynes et al, 2021). Although this decision increased the experimental control and internal validity of these studies, the comorbidity of these injuries is important to note.…”

“…It is important to note that physical and psychological injuries can coexist (e.g., leg amputation and PTSD from the explosion that caused it;Baker et al, 2009), but further discussion of this coexistence is beyond the scope of the current research. SeeHynes et al (2021) for qualitative research in this area.…”

Improving research and initiatives to support veterans and their families

“…Combining academics with their own lived military experiences and civilian academics with their own strengths and insights can result in powerful research teams. These are also reflected in this special issues reflected in the contributions of Celia Hynes et al in the UK11 and Diego Hernandez, Kevin Kip and colleagues article on Accelerated Resolution Therapy in supporting US Special Operations Veterans 12. It is hoped that this special issue can provide a valuable showcase for distributing these authors’ endeavours and will provide a significant contribution to inform future armed forces community research.…”

COVID-19 Collaborations

“…However, it is recognised that 'those who do encounter difficulties often experience multiple and complex problems' (Warren et al, 2015: 38). This can include concerns around mental health and/ or physical impairment following active Service (Hynes and Thomas, 2016;Hynes et al, 2020), and experiences of homelessness (Johnsen et al, 2008), drug and alcohol use (The Centre for Social Justice, 2014), the criminal justice system (Fossey et al, 2017), and gambling (Roberts et al, 2017). In response to the recognition that those leaving the military need supporting appropriately, there has been an increasing focus in UK policy and practice on the needs of veterans.…”