Abstract

SOSA, P; ALONSO, AG  and  BARDERA, P. Military disability: review of psychosocial resources in the armies of our environment. Sanid. Mil. [online]. 2022, vol.78, n.3, pp.159-171.  Epub Jan 30, 2023. ISSN 1887-8571.  https://dx.doi.org/0.4321/s1887-85712022000300006.

The legislative and social progress regarding the rights and equal opportunities of people with disabilities does not exclude military contexts. The United States, France, the United Kingdom and Spain have developed instruments to guarantee legal, administrative, and economic protection for military personnel with disabilities, although social recovery projects and programs seem insufficient. Therefore, this bibliographic review focuses on the objective of reviewing the psychosocial resources available in the Armies of our environment.

The results show that most of the studies reviewed focus on the recovery of military personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), although there are also studies on spinal cord injury or brain damage. The topics addressed, in relation to psychosocial support and available resources, focus on employability, economic compensation, treatments and factors that favour social integration. Of note are studies on: (1) the benefits brought by supported employment programs, for health, social integration, and self-esteem, (2) the use of service dogs, that improve quality of life and work production, and (3) sports programs, which improve self-esteem and quality of life, and favour post traumatic growth.

In conclusion, the need to establish comprehensive recovery programs, not only health, but also psychosocial, is pointed out. Military personnel and veterans with disabilities should be informed and advised about the resources available to them, and accompanied in the transition to civilian life, initiating work, social, sports and leisure projects that favour their quality of life, self-esteem, and recovery.

Keywords : veterans; military personnel with disabilities; psychosocial support; post-traumatic stress disorder.

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