Living a life less ordinary: What can the families of essential workers responding to COVID-19 learn from UK military families?

Abstract

Occupational stressors raised by the COVID-19 pandemic may negatively impact on the short and long-term mental health of essential workers as well as that of their family members. Given the lack of research in this area, reflecting on similarities in the experiences of military families could help identify ways to help support the families of COVID-19 essential workers. This article presents an overview of United Kingdom research on the experiences of military families during separations and the corresponding impacts on their mental health, psychological well-being, and relationships. It considers what helps military families cope during challenging times and discusses lessons that could be adapted from the military community and applied to COVID-19 workers to support families of other occupational groups during times of increased stress and pressure. Lessons learned are applicable not only to those responding to the COVID-19 pandemic but also to similar future events.