Mental Health Challenges and Barriers to Veterans' Adjustment to Civilian Life on the U.S.-Mexico Border.

BACKGROUND

Seeking mental health care is crucial for supporting effective reintegration among veterans. The U.S.-Mexico border presents a compelling and urgent case for study due to its proximity to economically marginalized and medically underserved areas, where the availability and accessibility of services are often limited.

OBJECTIVE

This study explored veterans' mental health challenges and factors that hindered their adjustment to civilian life on the U.S.-Mexico border.

METHODS

A total of 36 veterans were recruited using purposive sampling from a mental health agency located in Southwestern Texas on the U.S.-Mexico border between November 2023 and May 2024 to complete an in-depth semi-structured interview and a brief survey.

RESULTS

Using thematic analysis, we found six themes associated with our study: (1) mental health struggles, (2) enduring military-influenced mindset, (3) adjustment to civilian life, (4) strained family relationships, (5) past victimization and discrimination, and (6) barriers to opportunities and mental health care.

CONCLUSION

Understanding veterans' mental health well-being and their prospects for integration into the civilian world is critical for identifying risk and protective factors that can inform the development of targeted health promotion initiatives, strengthen the implementation of equitable health care efforts, and support strategies for enhancing treatment access that address the unique needs of veterans in the border region. Policy and practice implications are discussed.