Building What's Strong: Enhancing Veterans’ Mental Health with Optimism
By Victor Perton
“Our findings suggest that evidence-based approaches to cultivate optimism may help enhance happiness and well-being in veterans, including those with MDD. Further research is needed to evaluate this possibility, as the field moves toward 'building what's strong' in addition to 'fixing what's wrong' among veterans and other individuals affected by trauma and mental illness.”
That's what Professor Robb Pietrzak told me. Robb is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine and the Director of the Translational Psychiatric Epidemiology Laboratory in the National Center for PTSD at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System.
In the groundbreaking study "Happiness among U.S. veterans: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study," Robb, Hun Kang and colleagues examined the relationship between optimism and happiness in veterans.
Veterans are not only heroes of the past but also pillars of possibility for the future. The research highlights how optimism can be a transformative force in enhancing veterans' mental health and overall well-being.
Professor Robb Pietrzak explains, “Using data from a nationally representative sample of U.S. veterans, we found that optimism was a significant correlate of happiness, accounting for 10.7% of the explained variance in happiness scores. Even among veterans with major depressive disorder (MDD), those with higher optimism reported happiness levels more than 1 standard deviation higher than their less optimistic peers.”
These findings underscore the importance of fostering optimism as a pathway to greater happiness and resilience, even for veterans facing severe mental health challenges.
I am very much interested in this study as I have the honour of participating in facilitating courses with the Australian Public Service Academy for VetPaths – the Australian Pubic Services Veteran Employment Pathway.
Traditional approaches to veterans’ mental health have often centred on addressing what’s wrong—diagnosing conditions and mitigating symptoms. While essential, this deficit-focused model overlooks the strengths veterans already possess. Professor Pietrzak's emphasis on "building what's strong" represents a pivotal shift in mental health care: one that values optimism and resilience as integral components of recovery and growth.
Optimism is not merely a trait some veterans possess—it’s a skill that can be cultivated. By doing so, we empower veterans to cope with challenges and envision and pursue fulfilling futures.
Optimism is far more than a "feel-good" mindset. Research consistently shows its profound impact on mental and physical health, resilience, and even longevity. For veterans, optimism:
The findings from this study highlight that optimism can act as a buffer against the psychological toll of trauma and mental illness, even in those diagnosed with MDD.
Cultivating optimism in veterans involves intentional practices and supportive environments. Here are a few evidence-based strategies:
By incorporating some of these strategies, we create opportunities for veterans to recover from trauma and build resilience, happiness, and well-being.
By adopting a "building what's strong" approach, we honour veterans' intrinsic strengths while creating pathways to greater happiness and well-being. This shift enhances individual outcomes and cultivates a culture of resilience and optimism among veterans.
The Optimism Principle reminds us that optimism is key to overcoming life’s challenges. As we move forward, let’s focus on fostering environments where veterans can thrive—because building what’s strong benefits everyone.
As you can imagine, I asked Professor Pietrzak what makes him optimistic?
Robb told me, "Personally, I would say that what makes me optimistic is a combination of living a life of meaning (derived mostly from family and work), having strong and nurturing relationships, and always having something to look forward to. I should also note that my late mentor Dr. Steven Southwick, who is regarded as one of the leading experts on resilience, inspires me each and every day to carry on his life's work to promote positive mental health outcomes."
What strengths do you see in the veterans you support?
How can optimism help unlock their potential for a brighter future?