Brock researchers using mindfulness to boost Niagara veterans’ mental health
‘We’re looking for different outcomes, different results and so it’s pretty cool to see a group of vets being open to trying something that’s completely different’
As a clinical and health psychologist, Tiffany Hunt understands the benefit of talk therapy. She has seen the value of the practice in her own patients, particularly veterans coming out of military service.
But sometimes they need more than what therapy can offer. As an integrated practitioner, Hunt looks for ways to add adaptive coping outlets, including mindfulness and mindfulness theories.
Depression is a dwelling on the past and anxiety is a worry about the future. Hunt said finding activities that are mindful — different ways to be in the moment and present — can be added to one’s tool box to support mental wellness.
Research has shown that mindfulness-based practices are helpful for reducing anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in numerous populations. Brock University researchers are looking to see if those types of interventions can be useful for veterans returning home, to help them rebuild social connections and decrease PTSD symptoms.
That is the goal of Comrades in Wellbeing, a two-part program offering evidence-based wellness practices to improve mental health using yoga, sound healing, breathwork and peer support.
“Just different ways to show up for yourself. That might be showing up physically, it might be showing up more mentally, emotionally, or for some people, it’s even showing up on a spiritual level,” said Hunt, adjunct professor in Brock’s faculty of education.
Funded by True Patriot Love, a Canadian foundation supporting military members, veterans and their families, the university also teamed up with Boots on the Ground, a charitable organization offering confidential peer support for Ontario’s first responders and veterans, to launch the program.
“Hopefully, we’re going to see similar things like stress reduction, anxiety reduction, tension, even physical tension and PTSD,” said Hunt. “However it hasn’t been extensively studied per se with veterans so we’re looking to build on some of this research.”
Last Saturday, Hunt and co-clinician on the project, registered psychological associate Tessa Alexander, held a full-day retreat for participants. It included a panel discussion led by veterans and a talk addressing trauma and healing, followed by sessions on sound-healing, breathwork and yoga.
Watching the first cohort come together was rewarding for Hunt, who saw on the first day a few veterans have some “pretty powerful experiences with the breathwork and sound healing session.”
“That’s always exciting to see when someone gets massive stress relief or major emotional release quite quickly. And also I think the fact that they’re in an environment where they’re surrounded by peers and there’s that connection and effort to be supported,” said Hunt.
An important element of the program is the peer support, listening to other veterans share their lived experience either in the military, with mental health or the interventions themselves. Hearing peers speak authentically about their healing journey makes a “big difference.”
“We know that’s a major concern after coming out of service is that people feel really disconnected and lose that sense of camaraderie and community so this is a nice way to reconnect,” said Hunt, who has worked with veterans and first responders for more than 15 years.
Comrades in Wellbeing also includes a research component — evidence has shown that practices such as yoga see greater reductions in anxiety and depression when in place for about three months — with participants meeting virtually once-a-week for 12 weeks. Each session focuses on a different intervention, followed by peer reflection and a debrief circle.
While mental-health awareness has come a long way, there is still a stigma attached to the conversation. Trying something unexpected, like sound healing, takes a certain amount of open-mindedness.
“This program, it definitely is different. We’re looking for different outcomes, different results and so it’s pretty cool to see a group of vets being open to trying something that’s completely different,” said Hunt.
The goal for researchers is to show the benefits of expanding mental health and wellness in Ontario. Brock professor of educational studies Vera Woloshyn is the lead researcher with associate professor of educational studies Michael Savage and adjunct professor and instructor Lauren Cripps also on the team
“That’s a long-term goal. That if you can do some research to support this, that hopefully, eventually, some of these other services are covered for veterans and then later, we’re hoping to expand to fire responders as well,” said Hunt.