Abstract
Background Research suggests that ex-military personnel are at high risk of developing mental health disorders such as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have been found to underuse mental health services. Research has used quantitative methods focused on barriers to accessing services, with less emphasis on factors that enable veterans to seek support. Objective The aim of this qualitative research study was to explore the experiences of veterans who seek treatment and how they define their experience of ‘recovery’. Methods Nine male veterans who had completed a six-week Intensive Treatment Programme at Combat Stress participated in the study. Qualitative data was collected using semi-structured interviews and was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results Four key themes emerged: (1) discovering PTSD: ‘breaking the silence’, ‘experiences of diagnosis’ and ‘normalisation and containment’, (2) engaging with PTSD: ‘preconceptions and the challenges of military identity’ and ‘accepting PTSD’, (3) a road to recovery: ‘a shared experience of PTSD’, ‘finding me again’ and ‘adjusting to civvy street’ and (4) maintaining and rebuilding: ‘owning your PTSD’, ‘tackling PTSD in everyday life’ and ‘managing social relationships’. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of treatment, an Multi-Disciplinary Team approach and of psychological input for veterans with PTSD. In addition, the experience of being treated within a cohort, provides a familiar framework of treatment to veterans and which had a therapeutic effect in their recovery journey.
Highlights
15,000 individuals leave the United Kingdom (UK) military each year (UK Ministry of Defence, 2019; Defence Analytical Services Agency, 2017; Murphy et al, 2019)
The present study aims to qualitatively investigate three main questions: how do veterans make sense of their lives following a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? What factors facilitated their pathway to recovery? And what challenges have they experienced during their process of recovery?
A road to recovery Engaging with PTSD Maintaining & rebuilding
Summary
15,000 individuals leave the United Kingdom (UK) military each year (UK Ministry of Defence, 2019; Defence Analytical Services Agency, 2017; Murphy et al, 2019). A large cohort study found that only 31% of veterans who experience recent mental health problems sought help and accessed treatment (King’s Centre for Military Health Research, 2018). The UK armed forces are not the only population that struggles with help seeking for mental health problems. This stems across society and within the US, Canadian, and Australian militaries (King’s Centre for Military Health Research, 2018). Given the large number of veterans who struggle with seeking help, research to date has focused on Journal of Veterans Studies, Vol 5, No 1, 2019–2020 understanding the barriers or facilitators to accessing treatment (Murphy, Hunt, Luzon & Greenberg, 2013)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
