“A Hidden Community”: The Experiences of Help-Seeking and Receiving Mental Health Treatment in U.K. Women Veterans. A Qualitative Study
Abstract: Women veterans are often underserved in both the research into and provision of mental health treatment. This study explored women veterans’ experiences of mental health difficulties, help-seeking, and treatment provision. Semistructured telephone interviews with 19 U.K. women veterans who met criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder were conducted and Reflexive Thematic Analysis was used in analysis. Three superordinate themes encompassing participants’ experiences were developed: (a) attitudes toward mental health and help-seeking; (b) the need to acknowledge the uniqueness of women veterans; and (c) the structural elements of care provision. The findings indicate that women veterans have additional gender-specific challenges and needs concerning tailored pathways into help and support, as well as the environment and modality of treatment delivery, as distinct from veteran men.
Abstract: The unique demands of military life can adversely impact romantic relationships; however, research has mainly focused on these adverse outcomes at one-time point, overlooking changes over time or potential positive outcomes. Using a subsample of 3,845 male and female military personnel and veterans from a large UK dataset, this study examined positive and negative changes in relationship satisfaction between two-time points (2007–2009; 2014–2016). Most participants reported no change in their relationship satisfaction, suggesting stability − 8% reported a positive change and 10% a negative change. Positive change was associated with being in a long-term relationship, alcohol misuse remission, and persistent alcohol misuse. Negative change was associated with the onset of mental health problems (probable PTSD, CMD, or alcohol misuse) and having children under 18. Some factors, like increasing age, childhood family relationship adversity, and mental health problems, were associated with both positive and negative changes in relationship satisfaction. This study highlights the complexity of factors associated with relationship satisfaction among military personnel and veterans, with some experiencing positive changes, as well as negative changes over time.