Beyond the uniform: An international call for a mental health framework that addresses the needs of military and Veteran families during transition

Families often play a significant role during the military members’ transition to Veteran status. Despite this, research and policy are often focused on the Veteran perspective in relation to military-to-civilian transition and/or deployment transition (pre-, post-, and during deployment). The literature rarely focuses on the family perspective or the impact of transition on family members, including children and spouses. Even more infrequently does it examine the experiences of family members outside of the nuclear unit during this transition. Acknowledging the pivotal role the transition period plays in the well-being of Veterans, this commentary argues that effectively addressing this transition requires not only greater awareness but also structured integration of family perspectives into existing and future mental health frameworks. It will explore the implications and provide actionable recommendations with transnational relevance for clinicians, researchers, policy makers, Veteran service providers and the broader military, Veteran, and family communities.