Pilot outcomes of a filmmaking intervention designed to enhance treatment entry and social reintegration of veterans.

Military personnel transitioning to civilian life have reported significant challenges in reintegrating into civilian culture. Filmmaking has been used as a therapeutic intervention to enhance the community reintegration of veterans, but there are no published quantitative data documenting its impact. The present study provides outcome data on 40 veterans who participated in the I Was There (IWT) filmmaking workshop. This 3-day (20-hr) group intervention involved veterans working in small teams with a film coach, making short films designed to communicate some aspect of their experience during or after military service, and then creating a screening event to show their films to community members. The sample consisted of community-dwelling veterans who reported at least some mental health symptoms and who were not engaged in mental health treatment for those symptoms. Targeted outcomes included engagement in mental health care, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, and reported perception of community interest in their experience as veterans. Fifty-six percent of participants entered treatment within 4 months of participation. Significant decreases were noted in symptoms of PTSD at 1-month follow-up but not at the 4-month follow-up, while changes in depression were not statistically significant. Participation was related to increased perception of community interest in veterans' experience, and increased interest among community members who viewed the films. These data provide initial support for the conclusion that the IWT film workshop is a potentially effective tool for treatment engagement and for community reintegration among veterans. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Connecting Veterans and Their Community Through Narrative: Pilot Data on a Community Strengthening Intervention.

Military personnel transitioning to civilian life commonly report difficulty with establishing friendships, reconnecting with family, and a greater sense that they do not "fit in." Personal narrative interventions have the potential to increase the community's interest and understanding of Veterans' experience. This study examines the impact of a narrative intervention in which Veterans used film or verbal storytelling to describe their experience of being a Veteran to civilian audiences. A total 12 Veterans participated in at least one performance, and 88 community audience members attended one of six performances of the Veterans' narratives. Survey data indicate increase in positive attitudes towards Veterans, as well as a shift in the Veterans' perspective of civilians as receptive and supportive. These preliminary findings suggest that narrative interventions appear to have a positive impact on civilians' interest in Veterans and therefore, may be a valuable community reintegration intervention.

"When You Make a Movie, and You See Your Story There, You Can Hold It": Qualitative Exploration of Collaborative Filmmaking as a Therapeutic Tool for Veterans.

Despite the availability of effective treatments for coping with traumatic experiences, a large percentage of military veterans in need do not seek help. The "I Was There" model is a new filmmaking program which is a creative-expressive tool, developed to enable veterans to reflect on their experiences and jointly create short artistic films. These artistic films articulate, often metaphorically, aspects of the veterans' service experiences, traumatic events, and reintegration challenges. The current study employed a qualitative methodology to explore participants' subjective experience of the program. We interviewed 50 participants following the intervention, focusing specifically on their perceptions of the filmmaking process, the aspects they viewed as meaningful, and whether and how the process affected them. Most participants reported their experience as positive and empowering. Three overarching themes emerged as significant in describing the benefits of participation: Gaining a new sense of agency, regaining a sense of affiliation, and processing the trauma. The findings are illustrated and discussed within the context of narrative therapy, as is the potential of video-based therapy, especially regarding non-articulated, sensory traumatic memories, and for the process of (re)construction of the trauma narrative.