Pathfinder International Magazine – the leading UK Military Resettlement Magazine

Tag: Research

  • Research Into Leaving The Military – Participants Needed

    Research Into Leaving The Military – Participants Needed

     

    Are you above 18? Did you serve in the UK Armed Forces for at least 2 years? Have you left the Armed Forces within the past 10 years? King’s Centre for Military Health Research want to hear about your experience of leaving the military and transitioning to civilian life.

    You will be asked to complete an online survey estimated to last 70 minutes. You will be asked to write responses to four questions, related to how transitioning from the military to civilian life has been for you.

    Questions will explore the impact transitioning has on relationships, mental health, etc. You will also be asked to answer some short demographic questions about yourself.

    To participate or if you have any questions, contact vetwrite@kcl.ac.uk

  • Meeting The Mental Health Needs Of Female Veterans

    Meeting The Mental Health Needs Of Female Veterans

     

    Women veterans in the UK are less likely to use veteran-specific mental health services than men, and report feeling as though these services do not meet their needs.

    This project aims to improve our understanding of women veterans’ mental health needs and experiences of mental health services, in order to co-design guidance and recommendations for mental healthcare professionals providing support.

    This project is funded by the National Institute for Health Research and is in collaboration with the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and Salute Her.

    Click here to register your interest for the session for all audiences on 6 February 2024.

    You can read more on the preliminary research that formed the basis of this project here.

  • New ‘Moral Injury’ Treatment Shows Early Successes

    New ‘Moral Injury’ Treatment Shows Early Successes

     

    A pilot study developed and trialled a new psychological treatment, named Restore & Rebuild (R&R), with UK veterans affected by moral injury – distress resulting from events violating one’s moral or ethical code.

    This innovative treatment, co-designed with leading international professionals and veterans, led to significant improvements in several areas, including symptoms of depression and PTSD, as well as moral injury-related distress. R&R represents the first evidence of an effective specific treatment for moral injury in the UK. There is currently no such treatment available.

    Due to the success of this pilot study, Forces in Mind Trust has awarded a further £260,000 to fund the next phase: a randomised controlled trial to more robustly evaluate the R&R treatment.

    What is Moral Injury?

    In a military environment, moral injury may include when Service personnel have to make decisions that affect the survival of others; when medics are not able to care for all who were harmed; failing to report an event that violates rules or ethics, or engaging in (or witnessing without intervening to prevent) acts of disproportionate violence.

    However, moral injury is not exclusive to the military. Health workers and emergency services staff, for example, may also experience it; including when clinicians understand what care patients need but are unable to provide it due to constraints that are beyond their control.

    People who suffer moral injuries are at increased risk of mental health conditions such as PTSD or depression. Routine PTSD treatments are less effective when someone is experiencing a moral injury.

    Restore and Rebuild

    The new R&R treatment allows participants to build a relationship with a therapist over 20 sessions delivered weekly.  The sessions first focus on the participants’ life experiences, as well as psychoeducation on moral injury, and involve revisiting the original morally injurious event(s). Later sessions aim to reframe their negative beliefs. Participants are also encouraged to bring a close companion along to a treatment session.

    The research team is led by Dr Victoria Williamson and Professor Neil Greenberg at King’s College London, and Professor Dominic Murphy at veterans’ mental health charity, Combat Stress (also affiliated to King’s College London).

    Dr Victoria Williamson, King’s College London, said: “Individuals who struggle with moral injury-related mental health difficulties can find that existing psychological therapies do not fully address the distress they experience after potentially morally injurious events. Restore & Rebuild (R&R) is a psychological treatment co-designed and developed with UK veterans and leading professionals in the field of moral injury.

    “Our pilot study shows that R&R is a promising treatment for moral injury-related mental health problems and significantly improves wellbeing. In time, it may be possible to offer R&R to military veterans as well as other professionals (e.g. healthcare workers, police, journalists) who experience moral injury”.

    Professor Neil Greenberg, King’s College London, said: “R&R offers real hope to military personnel who have been confronted by moral or ethically challenging situations which have negatively affected their mental health. Whilst our results are from a pilot study, so a degree of caution is required, they are very positive and we are delighted that FiMT have agreed to fund a follow on, far more definitive, study of the true impact of R&R.

    “If this proves successful, we look forward to freely providing R&R to care organisations that treat veterans so they can help them move forward with their lives and continue to positively contribute to society”.

    Professor Dominic Murphy, Head of Research at Combat Stress, said: “This study is one of the first of its kind to develop a new treatment for moral injury.  The results of our study are promising, and we hope to be in a position to roll out this new treatment to support more veterans in the near future.”

    Michelle Alston, Chief Executive of Forces in Mind Trust, said: “Addressing any issues that stem from an individual’s time in military service is a key tenet of the Armed Forces Covenant. But treating moral injury has posed unique difficulties as there has been no UK-specific assessment scale for clinical use, and no specific treatment.

    “Restore and Rebuild offers the first possibility of a UK-specific manualised treatment for moral injury-related mental health problems, which offers great potential to help those veterans affected by moral injury whilst serving.”

    You can access a link to the full report here.

  • It’s All About the Details: A New Perspective On Job Interview Dressing

    It’s All About the Details: A New Perspective On Job Interview Dressing

    When it comes to what to wear for a job interview, we know the drill: a pencil skirt and a blazer in black or grey, a white shirt, and flat shoes.

    Imagine how many candidates interviewers meet each day that wear the same attire. While it’s important to follow a certain dress code and match that with your skillset and experience, there is something else that can help you stand out.

    And that’s the details: from the colour of your outfit to your lucky socks, here are a few tips and tricks no one talks about to help you ace your interview look.

    Colours, colours, colours

    Whether you wear a yellow or a green dress has much more significance than you might think. That is because colours have a deeper meaning beyond what pleases the eye.

    Each colour has its own frequency, just like the sound. Our bodies are also composed of seven spinning energetic centres, also known as chakras, that emanate frequency and are associated with certain emotions and organs in that energy centre. The frequencies of the seven chakras correspond with the frequencies of the seven main colours. And that’s how colours can make us feel a certain way.

    The way you feel has a direct impact on how you present yourself during an interview. Luckily, colours can help you dress to impress. Just like the famous English aphorism goes, “fake it till you make it”.

    Red – stable and responsible

    Responsibility and staying grounded when faced with a difficult situation are all qualities that are deeply valued in any job position. Wear red to your job interview to affirm your ground.

    Red speaks confidence and shows that you are serious about the position. It’s a colour that empowers and can give you that extra push to present yourself at your best.

    Yellow – confident and reliable

    The colour yellow is associated with our solar plexus chakra – our centre. Responsible for our self-esteem, this chakra is highly important when it comes to asserting and articulating ourselves.

    Wearing yellow can give you a much-needed confidence boost and show the interviewer that you are aware of your strengths and how you can contribute to the team.

    Blue – I speak clearly

    It’s important to be able to speak your truth, to be clear and concise without the additional fluff in your speech. Blue helps you with that.

    Even if your main attire isn’t in blue, it’s advisable that you find a way to incorporate this colour. You get a limited amount of time to present your skills and personality, so a little reminder that you can speak clearly and say what’s appropriate is very welcomed. A blue hair tie, a belt, or a handbag in that colour can do wonders.

    Purple – I have a deep understanding

    Purple is associated with knowledge, understanding, and finding solutions to problems easily. To present yourself as a top candidate that possesses those qualities, add purple to your job interview attire.

    It will not only help you present yourself in that light, but it will also aid you in discerning whether the job role and the team are right for you.

    Mix and match

    Knowing the meaning behind each colour can help you select an outfit that speaks to the type of energy that you want. Of course, you don’t have to go all monochrome, and you can mix and match the different colours for a boosted effect.

    Make sure you don’t end up looking too colourful, as this can seem tacky and unprofessional. Adding colour to your outfit subtly is key.

    While black and grey are classic interview attire colours, they don’t have that special hidden meaning as the ones above. Nevertheless, they can be used as a base for your outfit to make another colour pop.

    Also, consider accessories, as they can make or break an outfit. Wearing black wide-leg pants with a purple blouse matched with tan ankle boots and a navy-blue handbag will look stylish and speak of your great knowledge and ability to articulate yourself.

    Wear your lucky socks

    Many people have that one item that somehow always brings them luck. For some, that’s their pair of socks, for others – a four-leaf clover charm.

    But how does luck work? Many believe that some kind of mystical force has bestowed a certain item or a person. Some even go as far as believing that one can be born lucky or unlucky.

    Psychology, however, suggests that luck is the result of a person’s approach to a certain situation. If one believes that they will have a lucky day, they attune to that frequency, and their positive outlook can impact the outcome of the experience, resulting in a lucky day.

    Psychologist Richard Wiseman, who spent ten years studying the ‘luck factor’, believes that lucky people share certain characteristics, such as having more positive beliefs, being more optimistic, and listening to their intuition. Unlucky people, on the other hand, tend to be more pessimistic and anxious.

    So, you don’t have to be born under a lucky star to bring luck into your life. By having a positive outlook and believing in a favourable outcome, you can manifest that. To amplify the power of positive thinking, you can turn any item into a lucky charm. The Chelsea boots you’re wearing? They can be the lucky boots that help you walk into any opportunity with confidence and charm. Be the star of your own show!

    Styling the perfect outfit for an interview is a skill and an opportunity to infuse a little ‘daily magic’ into what you’re wearing. Assert yourself by choosing the colours that speak the best for you and walk your way to success. With the right mindset and luck under your belt, you can have the job you want!

    READ THE JANUARY ISSUE OF PATHFINDER HERE! 

  • Lt Gen Richard Nugee To Lead Climate Change Review

    Lt Gen Richard Nugee To Lead Climate Change Review

    A new review, led by former Chief of Defence People Lt Gen Richard Nugee, has been launched to spearhead initiatives within the Ministry of Defence when it comes to tackling the challenges of climate change…

    Lt Gen Richard Nugee has been appointed to lead the review, which will explore how the department can better incorporate climate change and sustainability considerations into Defence’s processes and policy decisions.

    Defence faces fresh and evolving challenges to how and where it operates as a result of climate change. Our Armed Forces, for example, need to be prepared to operate more often in the Arctic region as ice sheets recede and Russian submarine activity increases; our forces are increasingly called upon to assist with natural disasters across the globe; and they need to be able to operate in environments that will and are experiencing more extreme weather patterns.

    In addition, defence is one of the largest central government contributors to greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the operation of its aircraft, ships and vehicles plus its large estate of bases and housing. The former Chief of Defence People will drive climate change policy and planning within the MOD and develop the department’s strategy to reduce its contribution to carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.

    The review will focus on the Ministry of Defence’s contribution to NZ50 – the Government’s commitment to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

    Lieutenant General Richard Nugee said: “The effect of climate change will challenge how our Armed Forces operate today and will need to operate in the future; we need to act now to understand and prepare for the changes that have to be made. At the same time, we must reduce our own emissions to help the nation reach its Net Zero 50 commitment.

    “I will be looking at all elements of defence, from equipment to infrastructure, our processes, functions and behaviours to ensure that we develop a response that is built on much of the good work that we are already doing. Much of the success of our response will rest on our ability to motivate and harness the passion and enthusiasm of our people and the capabilities of our allies and industrial partners.”

    The review will focus on a range of initiatives including the MOD’s NZ50 strategy and setting a baseline for defence’s emissions and carbon footprint.

    Image: © Crown Copyright

  • Military Participants In Experienced Leader Programme

    Forces in Mind Trust has announce the five specialist fellows who have been selected to take part in the 2020 Clore Experienced Leader Programme...

    • Allie Bennington, Help for Heroes
    • Beverley Russell, Stoll
    • Tom Adam, The Poppy Factory
    • Tom Barham, Alabaré
    • Tommy Watson, Walking with the Wounded

    This intensive 12-month programme is designed for leaders in the social sector with over 6 years’ experience who seek to build their leadership capabilities and make a lasting difference within the sector. The programme offers access to individual coaching, residentials, peer-to-peer learning, online courses, and more, all designed to fit around existing time commitments.

    Participants will be supported, challenged and inspired by a group of like-minded social sector leaders and learn through real-world challenges, while using a variety of techniques.

    Commenting on the 2020 Experienced Leader cohort, Tom McBarnet, Director of Programmes at Forces in Mind Trust, said: “Capacity-building within the military charity sector is one of FiMT’s core objectives, so we are delighted to support the five programme Fellows from the military charity sector.

    “We have no doubt that through ELP these individuals’ capabilities will be significantly enhanced. That is not only an excellent result for these Fellows but of huge value to the Sector itself where we strongly hope their skills can be brought to bear both for near term advantage and also lasting benefit.”

    Clore Social Leadership’s Programme Director, Jamie Audsley said: “We’re thrilled to welcome a new cohort of participants and support them on their leadership development journey. We look forward to a challenging, inspiring, and rewarding year ahead which will seek to build new relationships, strengthen existing leadership skills and discover new ones, and amplify the positive impact of social leadership on our sector.”

    Image License: Creative Commons 3 Attribution: Alpha Stock Images Original Author: Nick Youngson – Original Image

  • AFF Highlights Excellence In Education

    To gather and share evidence of best practice in schools, the Army Families Federation wants to hear stories of schools that go the extra mile for service children…

    Do you know of a school that runs a great after-school club especially for service children? Or a school that provides service pupils with settling-in packs? Or has a dedicated teaching assistant for service children?

    Schools are being encouraged to nominate themselves via www.aff.org.uk and the best success stories will be shared on the Army Families Federation social media channels and in Army&You magazine.

    To find out more about the Army Families Federation, visit www.aff.org.uk

    The Army Families Federation (AFF) is the independent voice of army families: regular or reserve, wherever they are based, whatever the make-up of their family. Throughout the UK and overseas, AFF works hard to achieve policy change and progress in favour of army families; AFF offers advice and guidance on all aspects of army life, confidentially and in an easy-to-digest way.

    AFF works with other agencies such as MOD, government, charities and other key players to strengthen its cause and fight for a fair deal for families everywhere. Its family-focussed website contains information about all aspects of army family life, and its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages offer families other easy ways to contact AFF, or simply follow the work it is doing.

  • ADVANCE Study Secures Long-Term Funding

    ADVANCE Study Secures Long-Term Funding

    The ADVANCE Study (ArmeD SerVices TrAuma RehabilitatioN OutComE Study), a unique twenty-year study into the health of military veterans, has secured crucial funding for the next ten years…

    The Study has received a very substantial grant from the Headley Court Charity (£10M), complemented by a special grant from the Nuffield Trust for the Forces of the Crown (£1M) to mark the Trust’s 80th anniversary, and a five-year commitment from Blesma, The Limbless Veterans (£250K).

    These grants will assure the future of the ADVANCE Study for the next ten years and will build on the funding from the Ministry of Defence, LIBOR fines, and Help for Heroes which enabled the setup of the study and the initial recruitment into the study.

    To realise the full potential of ADVANCE, multiple follow-ups of the study participants over many years are essential. This will result in many significant research outcomes that will improve the clinical care of combat casualties. These enabling grants were donated to the ADVANCE Study Charity which supports all ADVANCE activity within Imperial College London, King’s College London and the Ministry of Defence.

    Group Captain Alex Bennett, Defence Professor of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation and Chief Investigator of the study, commented: “We are hugely grateful to the Headley Court Charity, Nuffield Trust for the Forces of the Crown, and Blesma for their generous support which will secure the next ten years of research and allow us to improve our understanding of the long term outcomes of being a combat casualty.”

    Lord Boyce, Chairman of the ADVANCE Study Charity commented: “We are extraordinarily fortunate to be the beneficiaries of the generous decisions of the trustees of the Headley Court Charity, Nuffield Trust and Blesma. Our thanks go to them on behalf of those who will benefit from the unique learning of the ADVANCE Study, and we shall look forward to demonstrating the impact their donations will enable for our wounded and their families.”

    ADVANCE investigates the long-term physical and psycho-social outcomes of battlefield casualties from the UK Armed Forces following deployment to Afghanistan between 2003 and 2014. This study, costing over £1M per year to run, is a collaboration between the Academic Department of Military Rehabilitation at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Stanford Hall, Imperial College London and King’s College London, and is the first prospective cohort study in this area.

    It aims to follow up and support this group of UK service personnel – 600 severely injured servicemen and 600 uninjured servicemen who act as a comparison group – for a period of 20 years. The ADVANCE Study is investigating a wide range of outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, mental health and social outcomes.

    The participants will have multiple and thorough health checks over the 20 years of the study and by being involved will contribute towards world class research that will improve future combat casualty care. Participant Jonathan Grave said: “I have a genuine interest in health and research and really believe the study has good intentions. And more importantly, I wanted to contribute towards ADVANCE and help research that will support long-term care outcomes for serving personnel and veterans.”

    If you were deployed to Afghanistan and sustained an injury which required you to be case-evaced to a UK hospital, or were deployed to Afghanistan without injury and would like to check to see if you are eligible to take part, please call the ADVANCE team on +44 (0)1509 251 500 (ext. 3408) or email them. You can also contact the team via the online contact form.

    If you take part, the study will cover your travel expenses, offer accommodation and give you £100 as a thank you for the initial review and £200 for each follow-up visit.

  • Funding For Recycling Technology Announced

    Funding For Recycling Technology Announced


    The Defence and Security Accelerator have announced funding for innovative technology to recycle waste aircraft oils and lubricants – saving the Armed Forces money in waste charges whilst delivering environmentally-friendly by-products in the process…

    The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) – on behalf of the Royal Air Force – has awarded contracts to three universities and one engineering firm to develop the new technology to turn waste hydrocarbons into recyclable by-products such as water, organic residue for fertilisers, and CO2.

    Announcing the funding to an audience of more than 150 innovators from small and medium-sized businesses attending the inaugural DASA Engagement Day at Cranfield University, Defence Minister James Heappey said: “I am delighted to announce the winners of this important DASA competition who will work with great minds in the RAF to decarbonise our flying activities and help with the battle against climate change. Climate change is one of the greatest threats we face. Working with scientists and innovators, we are determined to lead the way in decarbonising defence.”

    The contracts will build on the innovative concept of recycling waste hydrocarbons utilising microbes, which was developed by a small team from 47 Squadron at RAF Brize Norton. The team proved that waste oils and lubricants generated from servicing the Squadron’s C-130 Hercules aircraft could be broken down using microbes by a process called bioprocessing. The team won the RAF 100 Engineering Competition in 2018 with their concept demonstrator, and the project was selected for further funding to develop the concept for the MOD.

    Wg Cdr Nicholas Atkinson, special projects officer at RAF Brize Norton, said: “These innovations should provide a significant improvement in the way the MOD manages waste with the ability to use deployable bioprocessors on military or disaster relief operations. This technology also has the potential to save money for the military – and the taxpayer – in waste charges, as well as protecting the environment.”

    DASA associate delivery manager Katy Violet said: “DASA is proud to be working with the RAF on this important work. Innovation isn’t just about new kit, it is also about new and novel ways of doing things. The results from this funding have the potential to transform the way the Armed Forces deal with waste hydrocarbons in a green way while saving money.”

    Image: © Crown copyright

  • Research Reveals ‘Invisible’ Needs

    Research Reveals ‘Invisible’ Needs

    New research from Barnardo’s provides a glimpse into the ‘invisible’ lives of the children and families of veterans in custody. This was commissioned by the Forces in Mind Trust to assess their unique needs as part of a two year project…

    This follows previous work by Barnardo’s supporting children affected by parental offending and highlighting the importance of maintaining family relationships. The new report identifies complicating factors for veterans such as a loss of identity and a lack of holistic support services, and suggests early interventions, peer support and a family-based approach to prison work.

    The findings and the recommendations will be shared at the official launch of the report in Birmingham on Monday 10 February which is due to be attended by police officers, charities and academics.

    Barnardo’s researcher Leonie Harvey-Rolfe said:“Previous work has clearly demonstrated the importance of offenders maintaining family ties, and the impact of parental imprisonment on their children. This includes an increased risk of isolation, depression, bullying and truancy which can then affect their educational achievement and future prospects.

    “However, the voices and experiences of children and families of veterans in custody have largely been absent – which is why this research is so vitally important. It is apparent that prisons, military charities and peer support groups often don’t collect information on dependants or family situations so this group is likely to remain invisible and their needs unmet. There is no doubt that more specialist support is needed.”

    The research reveals that many former Armed Forces personnel fear revealing their past military careers could damage their relationship with their former units, or they view seeking support as an admission of weakness – which means many veterans don’t seek help for themselves and their family until they reach a crisis.

    Shame also plays a role. One prisoner said: “I saw coming to prison as a failure so I didn’t say I was a military veteran because that’s a double-failure. I didn’t say anything for a long time.”

    Key findings include:

    • Family breakdown levels are high amongst the sample and often this separation has occurred before the father went into custody
    • Mirroring the transition from military to civilian life, the greatest challenge is at the point of release from custody when transitioning back into the community
    • When veterans and families do access support on offer, feedback is largely positive

    Key recommendations include:

    • Opportunities need to be developed to facilitate peer support for veterans, partners and children
    • Consistent and funded veteran support services should be in operation across all prison estates
    • One agency should take responsibility for overseeing and coordinating support for children of offenders before, during and after their parent is in custody

    Leonie added: “No matter who their parents are or what they’ve done, the child is entirely innocent and should not be left to suffer in silence. What is needed is a change in systems and culture so that veterans, their partners and most importantly their children receive the right support at the right time. Only then can we truly start to improve the life chances of veterans and their families.”

    Air Vice-Marshal Ray Lock CBE, Chief Executive of Forces in Mind Trust, said: “Until now, the impact on the children and families of Service personnel who are serving prison sentences has been poorly understood and under-researched. It is the role of charities such as ours and Barnardo’s to work to ensure that those who are most vulnerable are given the necessary support to rebuild their lives.”

    For more information, visit www.nicco.org.uk

    Image Credit: Edgaras Vaicikevicius. License: Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)