Aims & Scope
- Address the Unique Context of National Guard Service
This journal aims to publish research that specifically examines the distinctive aspects of National Guard service that impact mental health and wellness, including:
- The dual civilian-military role and identity navigation
- Long-term effects of intermittent military service on psychological well-being
- Geographic dispersion of units and access to care challenges
- Reintegration into civilian life following deployments
- Family adaptation to periodic military service
- Promote Evidence-Based Practices and Interventions
The journal seeks to disseminate research on evidence-based assessment approaches, prevention strategies, and treatment interventions specifically adapted or developed for National Guard populations, including:
- Telehealth and distance-based mental health delivery models
- Brief, high-impact interventions compatible with drill schedules
- Peer support and unit-based mental health initiatives
- Family-centered approaches to resilience and wellness
- Prevention programs targeting National Guard-specific risk factors
- Field-tested toolkits, pilot initiatives, or implementation case examples—contributions from those innovating in real-world Guard settings.
- Explore the Full Spectrum of Well-being
Beyond clinical mental health concerns, this journal aims to address the holistic wellness of National Guard personnel across multiple domains:
- Physical health and its relationship to mental wellness
- Spiritual and moral dimensions of service and deployment
- Financial wellness and the impact of military service on civilian careers
- Social connection and unit cohesion in the drill environment
- Post-traumatic growth and resilience development
- Nutrition and its relationship with National Guard service
- Advance Policy and Systems of Care
The journal welcomes scholarship that informs policy development and care delivery systems and promotes interoperability between VA, DoD, and state-level behavioral health systems, including:
- Analyses of healthcare access and utilization patterns
- Evaluations of National Guard mental health programs and initiatives
- Critiques of current policies affecting Guard mental health care
- Proposals for improved coordination between military and civilian systems
- Economic analyses of mental health investments in Guard populations
- Foster Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Approaches
Recognizing the complex nature of National Guard mental health and wellness, the journal encourages submissions reflecting diverse disciplinary perspectives, including:
- Psychology, psychiatry, and other mental health disciplines
- Military medicine and public health
- Organizational and industrial psychology
- Social work and family studies
- Implementation science and health services research
- Military sociology and anthropology
- Nutrition and spiritual leaders
- Highlight Diverse Guard Experiences
The journal is committed to representing the diversity of National Guard experiences across branches, roles, demographics, and service histories:
- Combat versus non-combat deployments and roles
- Gender and racial/ethnic perspectives on Guard service and mental health
- Rural versus urban Guard service contexts
- Career trajectories and their impact on mental health
- Intergenerational perspectives on Guard service
Types of Submissions
The journal welcomes the following types of contributions:
- Letters to the editor on published content
- Policy analyses and commentaries
- Brief reports on innovative practices
- Theoretical and conceptual papers
- Program descriptions and evaluations
- Clinical case studies (with appropriate confidentiality protections)
- Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- Original empirical research (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods)
Target Audience
The journal serves a diverse readership including:
- Researchers in military mental health and related fields
- Mental health clinicians serving Guard populations
- Military leaders and policy makers
- National Guard medical commands and behavioral health officers
- Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense health administrators
- Academic institutions training providers in military mental health
- Guard members and families interested in mental health research