Transition & life after service
Navigating life after service.
For many Veterans, leaving military service is more than a career transition. It is a profound shift in identity, purpose, and belonging.
When service ends, many Veterans describe the transition to civilian life as abrupt and disorienting — marked by the loss of community, uncertainty about identity, and the challenge of rebuilding purpose in an unfamiliar environment.
This transition is one of the most critical periods for the long-term health and wellbeing of Veterans. Yet historically, it has been one of the least understood. At the Centre, our work has focused on bringing clarity to this experience, while translating it to generate meaningful change.
At the MacDonald Franklin OSI Research Centre, our work has focused on bringing clarity to this experience and translating it into meaningful change.
Project INSPIRE
Through projects Project INSPIRE, a national needs assessment involving over 300 Canadian Veterans, we identified how community and belonging can shape navigating life after service.\n\nTo go beyond the data, we developed Stories that INSPIRE, a co-designed research and knowledge mobilization initiative to center Veteran voices and lived experience. Through in-depth interviews and collaborative storytelling, Veterans shared their challenges, their processes, and their resilience.
Plain-language summaries of our studies.
Short briefings that explain what a study found and what it means — for Veterans and families, clinicians, policy makers, and researchers.
Active projects.
Assessing the Needs of Canadian Veterans with Amputations and Those Who Care for Them
This study explored the needs and experiences of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veterans with amputations and the family members or friends who support them. Surveys and interviews examined access to services and supports related to housing, finances, employment, physical and mental health, and overall wellbeing. Additionally, this study identified barriers to accessing care and support. Findings may improve services, while better meetting the needs of Veterans with amputations and their families.
Understanding the needs and barriers faced by Veterans with amputations and their families may help improve access to services and support their wellbeing.
Stories That INSPIRE: Reducing Social Isolation And Loneliness Through Storytelling
This study will explore Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veterans’ experiences after leaving the military, with a focus on loneliness, social isolation, and resilience. Through virtual interviews, Veterans will share their experiences accessing support, challenges, and overall wellbeing. The interviews will be developed into stories to help inform and inspire Veterans as they transition to civilian life.
Understanding Veterans’ experiences of loneliness, social isolation, and resilience after service may help strengthen supports and inspire others through the transition to civilian life.
Barriers and Facilitators to Treatment Following Military Sexual Misconduct
This study explores the barriers and supports that affect Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veterans’ access to care following military-related sexual misconduct. Veterans and healthcare professionals will share their experiences to help identify ways to make services more accessible, supportive, and trauma-informed. Findings may help improve resources for Veterans and better equip healthcare professionals to support those affected by military-related sexual misconduct.
Understanding barriers to care after military-related sexual misconduct may help improve trauma-informed services for Veterans and better support the healthcare professionals who care for them.
Improving Canadian Armed Forces Mental Health and Resilience Training: Understanding Trainee Preferences for the Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) Program
This study will examine which mental health and resilience training approaches are most valued by Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members. Researchers will analyze de-identified data to identify opportunities to improve training and better support CAF members’ wellbeing.
Understanding which mental health and resilience training approaches CAF members value most may help improve training and better support their wellbeing.
What we've published on this work.
- Mulligan, A., Lamrock, L., Hosseiny, F., Alves, J., Manteuffel, M., Haagen, J., Nazarov, A., Fossey, M., & Notarianni, M. · 2026Beyond the uniform: An international call for a mental health framework that addresses the needs of military and Veteran families during transitionJournal of Military, Veteran and Family HealthRead the briefing →