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Mission Reconnect program founder reports positive trial results and offers digital tools for veteran reintegration
Summary
The founder of Mission Reconnect described NIH-funded research showing improvements in PTSD, depression, sleep and partner outcomes and said the program is available by app and online as a tool for veterans and families.
Janet Khan, who co-developed Mission Reconnect, told the joint committee the program — available as a phone app and online — produced ‘‘strong decreases in PTSD, in depression, increases in sleep quality, decreases in perceived stress, increases in resilience’’ in the studies she described.
Khan said Mission Reconnect grew from small research grants, including work funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and was designed to help veterans reconnect with themselves, their partners and their communities after deployment. She said the program addresses interrelated challenges including pain, traumatic brain injury and emotional distress and is intended to be accessible to veterans and their partners.
The program’s studies, Khan said at the hearing, also showed mental health benefits for partners and reported improvements in tension, irritability and anxiety; she offered to share study materials and results with legislators upon request. Mission Reconnect is delivered as a suite of body- and mind-based tools, the founder said, and can be accessed remotely.
The committee did not vote or direct staff to act on the testimony, but several members expressed appreciation for evidence-based options that could complement clinical care and VA services.
