Military families
How to support a child whose parent died in military service
Losing a mom or dad in the military is a profound loss. Research on bereaved children shows what helps them grieve — and when to get extra support.
Military families and veterans
Military service shapes the whole family — the spouse holding things together at home, the kids counting the days, the veteran finding a way back to civilian life. Here: what research shows about deployment, reintegration, trauma and grief, and where to find help.
Explainers
Short guides to psychological ideas: what they mean, where they come from and what the research says.
- What is moral injury?Guilt, shame and a broken sense of right and wrong after war. Moral injury is different from PTSD — and it needs a different kind of healing.
- What is PTSD, and how do you recognize it?Nightmares, flashbacks, always being on guard, pulling away from loved ones. Here’s how post-traumatic stress disorder shows up, how common it is, and what treatment works.
Articles
Military families
How to get through the first months after homecoming
The homecoming is a joyful moment — and the start of a hard adjustment. Research shows what military families face after deployment and what helps.
Military familiesExplainer
What is moral injury?
Guilt, shame and a broken sense of right and wrong after war. Moral injury is different from PTSD — and it needs a different kind of healing.
Military families
How is PTSD treated, and what really helps?
PTSD is treatable. Here’s what research shows about Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, EMDR and medication — and how families can support recovery.
Military families
Secondary trauma: when a service member’s PTSD affects the whole family
Living with someone who has PTSD can take a toll. Research shows partners and children of veterans with PTSD often have trauma symptoms and distress of their own.
Military families
Staying connected during deployment: how often to talk and what to say
Calls, video chats, messages, care packages. Research shows communication during deployment matters for service members — and that the quality of the relationship shapes its effect.
Military families
How to talk with your kids about a parent’s deployment
A parent’s deployment shakes a child’s world. Research on military kids shows what helps them cope — and how to talk about it at every age.
Military families
Concussion and TBI: what families need to know
Headaches, memory problems, irritability, sensitivity to light and noise. Here’s what research says about mild traumatic brain injury in service members, recovery, and how families can help.
Military families
How to help a veteran who started drinking too much
Combat deployment is linked to new heavy drinking, especially among younger service members and the Guard and Reserve. Here’s how families can help — without nagging.
Military familiesExplainer
What is PTSD, and how do you recognize it?
Nightmares, flashbacks, always being on guard, pulling away from loved ones. Here’s how post-traumatic stress disorder shows up, how common it is, and what treatment works.
In crisis? Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). Veterans and service members: dial 988, then press 1. More resources on our Get help now page.