The impact of in-Service physical injury or illness on the mental health of military veterans

BackgroundEach year approximately 2000 UK service personnel are medically discharged with physical and/orpsychological injury or illness. While there is much research on both psychological injury and physicalinjury, the challenges of transition relating to the intersection between the two has received lessattention. This article reports on the first phase of a two-year funded study with the aim to understandthe lived experiences of veterans who have been discharged from service with a physical injury orillness and the impacts of this on their mental health.MethodsUsing a qualitative methodology, 22 veterans who had been discharged from service within the lasteight years were interviewed to identify key aspects of their experience of the transition process.ResultsThe article highlights two key themes: how some veterans adjusted to life with a physical injury orcondition; and, the intersections that became apparent between physical injury and mental health.The challenges that veterans faced were shaped not only by the transition process, but also by theway in which the medical discharge process was conducted.ConclusionsConsideration of improvements to the medical discharge process could influence better outcomes forthose who have left with a physical injury or illness and later find themselves struggling with mentalhealth issues.Key messages• Discharge due to physical injury or illness can have long term implications for mentalhealth• The discharge and subsequent transition process can impact on veteran wellbeing over asignificant period of time• There is a need for mental health support both before and after discharge for ServicePersonnel with physical injuries or condition