Organization of Rehabilitation for Military Personnel, Disabled People and Their Families in Foreign Countries: Psychological, Medical and Social Help

Relevance. With the ongoing emergence of armed conflicts worldwide, the issue of military personnel rehabilitation remains highly relevant. This article provides an overview of the methods of habilitation and rehabilitation of military veterans and their families in Western Europe, North America and Australia as well as the governmental and non-governmental institutions involved in recovery and readaptation. The paper discusses possible ways of providing psychotherapeutic and social assistance to military personnel and their families, options for conducting psychoeducational programs for them, creating information resources, as well as systems of sanatorium treatment and socio-economic assistance.

The aim of this article is to critically assess the experience of Western European, North American, and Australian countries in the habilitation and rehabilitation of military personnel.

The data for the analysis include some regulatory acts of Western Europe, North America and Australia, Internet resources of specialized organizations and structures, sites with psychoeducational information, scientific articles devoted to the problem of rehabilitation of military personnel.

Results. It has been established that at the moment, the medical and social assistance programs implemented in the above-mentioned countries are being updated and changing the vector of development. Preference is given not to classical psychopharmacological methods of treatment and rehabilitation, but to psychotherapeutic and social-adaptive approaches. Significant attention is paid to the formation of unpaid programs for obtaining the necessary surgical, drug and sanatorium treatment, as well as providing subsidized assistance in receiving paid treatment. Assistance offered in solving employment problems, and facilitating the return of military personnel to productive civilian life. Psychoeducational programs are conducted not only for military personnel, but also for their relatives; information resources are designed to prevent various psychological complications and psychopathological conditions. Modern trends include fundamental importance of supporting the family of a veteran, supervision in the event of his death, protecting the mental health of family members and children.

Conclusions. The key principles for enhancing the effectiveness of the medico-social and professional rehabilitation and habilitation system have been identified. The study concludes that a multifaceted approach to the medico-social rehabilitation of military personnel is essential, along with the operation of organizations capable of addressing habilitation and rehabilitation based on individual characteristics while offering military personnel and their families a broad range of opportunities for continuing a fulfilling life.