Scottish Veterans Health Research Group

The Scottish Veterans Health Research Group was established in 2018 by Professor Beverly Bergman, developing from the Scottish Veterans Health Study which began in 2012. The Research Group is located within the Public Health Unit of the University of Glasgow's School of Health and Wellbeing.  

Aims and Objectives

Our aim is to provide high-quality evidence-based information on the long-term health of military veterans, to act as an evidence base for policy makers, planners and service providers and to counter the potentially damaging myths and misconceptions about veterans’ health which have developed.  We also carry out research on the health of serving personnel, especially in areas where there may be an impact on long-term health extending into life as a veteran, in order to inform planning for preventive strategies.

Our Logo

Badge of the Scottish Veterans Health Research Group

Our logo symbolises everything to which the Scottish Veterans Health Research Group aspires.  The owl represents the knowledge and wisdom that comes from scientific research.  It is standing on, and therefore vanquishing, the ‘snake in the grass’ of uninformed opinion and sensationalist speculation that is so damaging to veterans. But the snake is also wrapped around a branch, and therefore recalls the ‘Staff of Aesculapius’, the symbol of the Classical god of Medicine, whose daughter Hygeia was the goddess of Health. The colours on the banner represent (L-R) Scotland, the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force, whilst the gold lettering symbolises the inestimable value of service in the Armed Forces. 

Research

Links

Where to go for help

Our Publications

We have published papers on the risk of the following conditions and outcomes in veterans, in comparison with people having no record of military service: 

We have also published a discussion paper which examines whether ‘institutionalisation’ is an appropriate model for the difficulties which some veterans experience on return to civilian life.

Our People

  • Prof Beverly Bergman, Head of Scottish Veterans Health Research Group
  • Dr David Ross, Doctoral Researcher
  • Prof James Floyd, Project Consultant
  • Mr Michael Laver, Project Consultant
  • Dr Alethea McHardy, PhD student