Assessing feasibility/acceptability of the Veteran Connection Programme (and trial) to enhance mental health amongst military veterans through social connectedness

What is the problem?

Many service members struggle when they leave the military. They lose their career, their team, and who they were as a person. This is worse for those leaving with injuries or mental health problems. Many end up ‘drifting for years’, trying to find a new identity and bouncing between jobs and services. Many of them are unsure who to reach out to. This can lead to problems like feeling lonely and depressed. Some feel constantly worried and start drinking too much to cope. 

16,000 people leave the UK military each year, costing the government more than £110 million every year. At present, most support for veterans helps with finding jobs and housing. But this support doesn’t guarantee they will do well in their new job. And what’s worse, it doesn’t help them to feel less lonely and find their place in society. 

We found that being part of groups helps people during difficult life changes. This is because groups give meaning and purpose. They offer belonging and help people build a stronger sense of self. Because of this, we created the Veteran Connection Programme (VCP). VCP is run in groups so people can share their experiences and learn from each other. It is delivered by trained veterans and psychologists in a safe environment. 

Last year, we tested VCP with 25 veterans, showing promising results. Veterans in the programme felt healthier and happier, and less lonely. Many said they felt more confident and more willing to talk about difficulties. For example: “I’m not by myself anymore… I’m not abnormal. This is okay…”; “[During VCP, we] were vulnerable, which you don’t usually see […] that’s the strength of the programme.” 

What will the project do?

We want to see if VCP works, takes pressure off the NHS, and can be delivered in the right way. We will test VCP with a group of 80 diverse veterans. This will include women, people from different racial backgrounds, people living in rural areas, and people who left the military early. Half will get VCP. The other half gets a leaflet with support options. We will ask veterans if VCP works for them, and how we can make it better. We also want to find out if our plans to deliver it are practical and if VCP saves the NHS money. These results will help us plan a bigger research project that will test whether VCP improves veterans’ lives.

What are the aims of this project?

The results of this study will help us plan a bigger research project that will test whether VCP improves veterans’ lives. VCP is supported by over 50 veterans and over 15 charities, three mental health trusts, and many doctors. Many of them are part of a group that will help guide our research and share our findings with others who may benefit.