Bridging Research, Practice, and Policy for Guard Communities
The Journal of National Guard Mental Health and Wellness addresses a critical gap in military mental health scholarship by focusing specifically on the unique challenges and opportunities within National Guard service. As an open-access, no-fee publication, we are committed to advancing scientific understanding and improving care for the nearly 450,000 National Guard service members and their families across the United States.
Why This Journal Matters
National Guard personnel navigate a complex dual identity—balancing civilian careers and family life with military service obligations. This distinctive service model creates mental health and wellness challenges that differ significantly from those faced by active duty personnel or veterans. Geographic dispersion, intermittent service patterns, and the ongoing transition between civilian and military roles require specialized research attention and tailored interventions.
Our Focus Areas
Unique Guard Experiences: We publish research examining the psychological impact of dual civilian-military roles, long-term effects of intermittent service, deployment reintegration challenges, and family adaptation to periodic military obligations.
Evidence-Based Solutions: Our pages feature practical interventions designed for National Guard contexts, including telehealth innovations, brief high-impact treatments compatible with drill schedules, peer support initiatives, and family-centered resilience programs.
Holistic Wellness: Beyond clinical mental health, we explore physical health, spiritual well-being, financial stability, social connection, and post-traumatic growth within Guard communities.
Systems and Policy: We advance understanding of care coordination between VA, DoD, and civilian systems while informing policy development that better serves geographically dispersed Guard populations.
Diverse Perspectives: Our interdisciplinary approach welcomes contributions from psychology, psychiatry, military medicine, public health, social work, implementation science, and military sociology, ensuring comprehensive coverage of Guard mental health topics.
Our Commitment
This journal serves as a bridge between researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and Guard communities themselves. We prioritize work that translates into real-world improvements in care delivery, policy development, and wellness outcomes for National Guard service members and their families.
Whether you're a researcher investigating Guard-specific mental health phenomena, a clinician developing innovative treatment approaches, a policymaker seeking evidence-based guidance, or a Guard member interested in the latest developments in military mental health, this journal provides a dedicated forum for advancing knowledge and practice in this specialized field.
Join Our Mission
We invite submissions that advance our understanding of National Guard mental health and wellness. Together, we can ensure that those who serve in our nation's Guard receive the specialized attention, care, and support their unique service deserves.