Chief Investigator: Professor Sam Chamberlain, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton; Sam.chamberlain@soton.ac.uk

Co-Investigator: Dr Konstantinos Ioannidis, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust [NHS]; k.ioannidis@soton.ac.uk

Partners: Dorset Integrated Care Board, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board, Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton City Council, Health Innovation Wessex, CNWL NHS Trust, National NHS Gambling Clinic London, Avon and Wiltshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, South West NHS Gambling Service, Swansea University, Gambling in Armed Forces research group, Royal Navy, Southampton City Council, Stronger Communities, Southampton Armed Forces Covenant, Eling Royal British Legion branch, Southampton Voluntary Services, HIOWH NHS Armed Forces Network, The Society of St James, Parent Support Link.

Start: 1 December 2024

End: 31 March 2026

Background to the research Military veterans face a number of challenges including being at elevated risk of Alcohol Use Disorder and Gambling Disorder, in comparison to the general population. In the Wessex region there are over 100,000 serving/retired military personnel, yet, our regional addiction services report levels of veteran personnel referrals below the expected numbers.

Aims of the research

Informed by extensive stakeholder consultation with regional addiction services, a need has emerged to carry out explorative research and community partnership building on understanding the extent of engagement in accessing treatment and formal support for gambling and/or alcohol problems for military veterans and learn how this knowledge can enable improvement .

Design and methods used This research will consist of one-to-one interviews with military veterans and multiple stakeholder workshops with key multidisciplinary partners and collaborators. Both work packages (WPs) will utilise robust methodological approaches and will build on findings from interviews, PPIE input and views of wider stakeholders.

Patient, public and community involvement Public and service user representation is an embodied element throughout this study that will guide decision making and will support multidisciplinary partnership building in the wider community. The PPIE group will consist of members with experience in gambling and/or alcohol use disorders to ensure that research activities and recommendations for the improvement in support pathways reflect the needs of those affected in local communities.

Dissemination

By identifying common thematic experiences of military veterans affected by gambling and/or alcohol use, and conducting a series of collaborative stakeholder workshops, a consensus set of recommendations will be constructed. This new knowledge will be mobilised amongst key Wessex region stakeholders (e.g. VCSE, military NHS pathways, regional NHS treatment services for gambling disorder) that will enable knowledge identification and exchange, both of which are necessary for informing the planning of further work in this area.