Reflections, Conclusions and Acknowledgements
Reflections
As noted in Community and Relationships: Anything but Uniform the bereaved, despite being specifically mentioned in the Armed Forces Covenant as meriting special consideration, are often omitted from policy and practice. It should be recognised that they are also part of the armed forces and veteran community and have sacrificed much in the Service of this country.
To navigate all the challenges associated with bereavement, it is vital that those affected can access the best support for their needs at the time they need it. It appears that the feeling of being overwhelmed is a universal reaction to loss. This can lead to disengagement from support. Checking in regularly with the bereaved family in the months, sometimes years, following the death helps to ensure that any relevant support or services can be accessed when the bereaved family is ready to do so.
While it contains essential information that needs to be imparted, the Purple Pack contains too much information that is delivered too quickly. A number of bereaved spouses said that receiving a long, complicated document when they were in the very early stages of grief meant that they could not ingest the information, some even discarded it.
Some widows of veterans have reported delays of several months in the payment of pensions. This could lead to severe financial hardship if the widow has no savings or other means.
Many members of the bereaved community welcomed remaining connected to the Serving community, but this did not happen often as a matter of course. An example of very good practice cited was RAF Lossiemouth which maintains links with the local bereaved RAF community, via invitations to events, in a way that is greatly valued.
Consideration should be given to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, now incorporated into Scottish law, to ensure that military-bereaved children are able to fully exercise their rights to healthcare, education, family life, play, and recreation.
The loss of a parent is considered a significant Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) and there can be a correlation between this and the resulting physical and mental health challenges which arise for a child or young person. Encouraging all support services, whether statutory or third sector, to become trauma-informed would significantly improve the outcomes for children impacted by bereavement.
As with many areas of support, equitable access across Scotland is required and collaboration and integrated pathways across statutory and third sector organisations are key components in improving outcomes for this community. Public bodies must recognise and uphold the Armed Forces Covenant for the bereaved. Access to specialist counselling – waiting lists, who is offered / included etc – is an area that would benefit from further consideration in relation to the veteran community.
There are clear opportunities to raise awareness of the existence of the military bereaved community and their inclusion in the covenant, and to ensure they are more explicitly referenced and considered within the development of policies, guidance and services.
Conclusions
This review does not seek to make formal recommendations. However, the testimonies heard, supported by research and organisational insight, point to some clear conclusions.
Bereavement in the Armed Forces community is distinctively complex. The combination of deep personal loss and institutional disconnection creates unique challenges, whether death is Service-related, or due to accident, illness, or suicide. Even when death is unrelated to Service, bereaved families may face disadvantage in housing, education, and mental health.
Healthcare is an area of concern. Bereaved military families must receive equitable access to NHS services, with recognition of their specific emotional, psychological, and practical needs. Providers should implement a system to identify and flag bereaved military families in health records to ensure continuity and awareness of their status.
Education is another area requiring greater awareness. Educators will be aware of bereaved pupils but not necessarily of the particular needs of military bereaved children. Insights from organisations such as Scotty’s Little Soldiers should be embedded in guidance for educators.
When delivering services for older adults in Scotland, health and social care providers should proactively identify both veterans and their spouses or partners. Doing so ensures they can be connected to the full spectrum of support available within the veteran community, helping to address practical, emotional, and social needs more effectively, especially following a bereavement.
There are opportunities to ensure the bereaved community – including organisations who represent them such as the RAF, Army and Navy Widows Associations in addition to the War Widows Associations – are included in events and engagements that seek to include the voices of the veteran community.
To conclude, a cultural shift is imperative to ensure that bereaved Service families are systematically recognised and explicitly incorporated into all aspects of practice, support, and policy. Although effecting this change presents challenges, its impact would be substantial and enduring, ensuring that their service is properly acknowledged, their needs are addressed comprehensively and the founding principles of the Armed Forces Covenant are observed.
Acknowledgements
The Scottish Veterans Commissioner is deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to this review. Her thanks go to all of the organisations and individuals who took the time to meet or to provide input. The information, research, data, insights and stories shared with us were essential in informing this review paper. In particular, thanks go to those who shared the sensitive and challenging subject of their own bereavement and grief. Their insight and openness have greatly informed and enriched this report.
