Understanding ‘Negative Transitioning’ in British Ex-Service Personnel

Abstract: This research addressed three measures of negative transitioning, mental ill-health, imprisonment and homelessness, using a sample of 323 respondents from all Services across the UK and in the support sector, with two extended case studies which addressed veteran prisoners and ex-prisoners in Scotland and homelessness in Birmingham. The research design is qualitative, capturing the lived experiences of veterans and their families in their own words, as well as the perspective of support providers. The sample breaks down into: Mental health 129, Prisoner 42, Homeless 49, Family members 26, and Stakeholders 77. The sample is unusually large for a qualitative research design and adds weight to the findings. The spread of the sample across the UK is proportionate: England 153, Scotland 82, Wales 49, and Northern Ireland 39. The total number of veterans interviewed was 220, most of whom were male (217), full-time (202), and in the British Army (207). The sample under-represents women veterans and veterans from the other Services. This limits the generalisations to the other Services.