Factors associated with well-being among treatment-seeking UK Veterans: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

LAY SUMMARY Veterans seeking treatment for mental health problems are likely to face more than one problem. Well-being is a concept that does not rely on any mental health diagnosis or difficulty and may offer a broader way to capture mental health. In this study, 428 UK Armed Forces Veterans seeking treatment for mental health difficulties at a UK-based charity completed a survey asking about mental health and well-being. Overall, treatment-seeking Veteran well-being was associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression, physical health, problems with anger, moral injury, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and complex PTSD. Sleep problems, alcohol misuse, and loneliness were also linked with well-being scores. These associations suggest that well-being may capture Veteran health in a way that is separate from any single diagnosis, meaning outcomes for Veterans with complex needs who require a range of support can be compared. These results also highlight the relevance of positive mental health, as opposed to mental ill health.