A Community of Buddies: Support Groups for Veterans Forced Into Early Retirement

Ongoing support groups for veterans who have made a poor adjustment to involuntary early retirement are offered by a mental hygiene clinic in a Veterans Administration hospital. Most of the veterans have been forced to retire for medical reasons. The groups are intended to strengthen their support systems and to reduce the negative psychosocial consequences of involuntary early retirement, such as isolation, boredom, depression, and impaired social relationships. A survey of group members indicated their functioning had improved after group participation. They reported better mental health, improved social relationships, higher activity levels, and greater satisfaction with retirement.