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: INTRODUCTION: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are an ongoing public health crisis in the United States. A large body of research indicates an urgent need for increased training in SUD research and treatment for trainees in mental health service disciplines. The VA Health Care System is well positioned, as the largest trainer and employer of health service psychologists and other mental health professionals, to address the SUD training gap and serve as a leader in training the upcoming health care workforce. METHOD: To this end, we conducted two pilot studies to (1) examine the feasibility of implementing supplemental SUD training for VA health service trainees, among current VA mental health service providers in psychology, social work, and medical care (N = 37) and (2) the efficacy of a single 2-hour interdisciplinary SUD training seminar for VA health service trainees in mental health (N = 13). The training seminar consisted of several components including lecture, facilitated discussion, and role play, aimed at increasing trainee self-efficacy in assessing and diagnosing SUDs. RESULTS: Findings suggest that current providers are supportive of supplemental SUD training for VA trainees and believe that such training is beneficial for those wishing to pursue a career within the VA Health Care System. Additionally, results suggest that a single session didactic seminar improved trainees' self-reported efficacy in the assessment and referral of veterans diagnosed with SUDs. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the above studies support additional feasibility investigations that would pave the way for successful implementation of widespread SUD training programs across the VA Health Care System and beyond. Successful implementation would then serve to reduce the increasingly critical SUD provider shortage, thus leading to significant public health gains.