The Together Programme: Supporting Caregiving Partners of veterans
Abstract: In a recent analysis conducted by Combat Stress of UK, partners living alongside veterans with mental health difficulties, rates for depression and PTSD were higher compared to the external population (depression 39% Vs 20%, PTSD 17% Vs 3%. (Murphy, Palmer & Busuttil, 2016). As such this suggests the high burden of need within this group. The support currently available here in the UK mainly comprises of peer based support. Whilst research indicates the positive impact peer led groups can have, the clinical severity of partners symptoms implies a need for more structured, bespoke and evidence based intervention. To this end, a bid for funding to support the development of an evidence based intervention ‘The Together Programme’ for UK veterans partners was made and kindly awarded by The Royal British Legion in 2016. Based on review findings, two US psychoeducational programmes, SAFE and Homefront Strong (see glossary) which have been found to be effective and well accepted within the US military population were selected as the most appropriate base to devloop a UK specific injtervention to support military partners.
Abstract:United States military veterans face challenges when reintegrating into civilian society. Among these difficulties often exist barriers for veterans in navigating work and career experiences. This study tested factors that may contribute to experiences of decent work and reintegration in a sample of 90 United States veterans. Utilizing the Psychology of Working Theory as a framework, veterans' social support was hypothesized to be a moderating factor in the relationship between veterans' experiences of marginalization and decent work. Additionally, decent work was examined as a potential mediator in the association between veterans' career adaptability and reintegration. Separate moderation and mediation models were tested to examine the study's hypotheses. Results did not find social support to moderate the relationship between marginalization and decent work. However, decent work significantly and partially mediated the relationship between career adaptability and reintegration. Interpretation of these findings in the context of the literature is discussed, as well as implications for practice and theory, limitations, and future directions.