Executive Summary: There is quite a significant body of research on the subject of homelessness as experienced by veterans of the UK Armed Forces. This provides for a good understanding of both the size of the problem and the experiences of those involved. The proportion of veterans among London’s single homeless population is estimated to have fallen from above 20% in the mid to late 1990s, down to 6% in 2008. In terms of the number of veterans, this is a reduction from an estimate of between 3,000 and 4,000 down to approximately 1,100. This has been attributed to a combination of reduced output from the Armed Forces, improved Ministry of Defence (MoD) resettlement provision and better intervention from ex-Service charities. The characteristics, profile and experiences of homeless veterans are largely the same as those of the wider homelessness population, although there are some notable differences. Homeless veterans have been found on average to be older, have slept rough for longer, be less likely to use drugs and more likely to have alcohol-related problems. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been found among a small number of homeless veterans although other non-military related mental health problems were more common.There is little evidence to support the notion that military life, or institutionalisation, is a cause of veterans’ homelessness. There is some evidence that, for a minority, military life, through factors such as trauma of combat, mobility of the job or the drinking culture, had reduced their ability to cope post-Service. In some cases, military life had suspended the impact of pre-existing vulnerabilities and these had resurfaced post-discharge. However, in the main, homelessness had occurred some time after Service. In common with the wider homeless population, a variety of factors and events had influenced and preceded homelessness.
Abstract: The U.S. Army’s Ask, Care, Escort (ACE) suicide gatekeeper training has been the annual requirement for all personnel since 2009; however, this training has never been formally evaluated. The present study evaluated three updated versions of ACE: a training for Army leaders (ACE-Suicide Intervention), a training for basic combat trainees (ACE for Basic Combat Training and One Station Unit Training), and a standard training for all personnel (ACE for the Force). Self-report surveys measured pre- to posttraining changes in objective and subjective knowledge and stigma, as well as preparedness, self-efficacy, and likelihood to engage in gatekeeper behaviors. Implementation outcomes, such as training acceptability, suitability, and usability were also assessed. Across these evaluations, participants reported that knowledge and gatekeeper behaviors significantly improved from pre- to posttraining. Implementation metrics revealed a high degree of acceptability and relevance for all three ACE trainings. Overall, the findings of these evaluations suggest important changes in key suicide prevention outcomes following the ACE suite of trainings. Further longitudinal assessment is needed to establish the full effectiveness of gatekeeper interventions in the Army.