Narratives of transformation and recovery in New Zealand Defence Force personnel accessing mental health support

LAY SUMMARY The way military personnel describe seeking support for difficult mental health experiences can highlight what helped recovery and what impeded it. This study examined stories of accessing care told by New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) military members to understand their unique perspectives on mental health recovery. In total, 21 NZDF military personnel who were treated for mental health concerns were interviewed. Results showed how personnel described experiences of being supported through the NZDF mental health system, how hard it was to seek help, and how challenging the process was to get better. In general, participants described positive outcomes, where they felt supported to recover and become better versions of themselves through the process. Results highlight that growth from mental health struggles for NZDF military personnel is possible and can be supported. Discussion focuses on things leaders and organizations can do to ensure military service members are encouraged to feel they are in control of their own recovery process. Introduction: Little is known about user experiences of accessing mental health care among active duty New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel. Although research exists on barriers to care and treatment outcomes, there is a dearth of understanding of the experiences between these two areas of focus. This study describes the narratives of 21 active duty personnel who sought mental health support in the NZDF health care system. Methods: Participant accounts were generated through semi-structured interviews and analysed using a narrative approach. The focus of analysis was to provide a deeper understanding of how participants storied their experiences from the onset of mental distress to recovery, with a focus on the narrative structure of these experiences. Results: Participant narratives often followed the progression of a quest narrative, mirroring the hero’s journey, which encompassed background factors leading to distress, chaos and breakdown, serendipitous connection to support, recovery, and redemption. Engaging with the health care system marked the beginning of personal transformation and posttraumatic growth. Transformation involved changing core beliefs and perspectives, leading to increased self-awareness and empathy and ultimately contributing to growth as individuals and leaders within the NZDF. Discussion: This study underscores the importance of understanding and facilitating posttraumatic growth