# Pilot Testing a Virtual Mindfulness-Based Intervention Aimed at Improving Reintegrating Veterans' Health Outcomes

> **NIH VA I21** · RLR VA MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · —

## Abstract

Background: Community reintegration is a critical period of transition for post-9/11 Veterans. Difficulties
associated with the transition out of military service are well documented and include challenges such as social
isolation and loss of structure. Depression is common among reintegrating post-9/11 Veterans and can further
complicate these reintegration challenges. Despite the well-documented needs of post-9/11 Veterans and
numerous resources, Veterans continue to report inadequate support and are not using available services. As
such, it is critical to develop reintegration services that can effectively address Veterans' mental health care
needs using approaches that increase the likelihood of Veteran engagement.
Significance: The Veterans Affairs (VA) Administration has committed to addressing the transition-related
challenges of the post-9/11 Veteran cohort, particularly programming to support their mental health care
needs. Mental health is also a priority research area. The VA's 2022-2028 Strategic Plan includes a strategic
goal that ensures VA programs and initiatives support the whole person and address mental health and other
challenges affecting Veterans' well-being, including the military-to-civilian transition. The REconnecting to
Civilian Life using Activities that Improve Mindfulness (RECLAIM) intervention addresses the priority and
strategy of addressing reintegrating post-9/11 Veterans' mental health. We will also elicit Veterans'
experiences in participating in a virtual intervention to expand the understanding of how best to design and
implement interventions with virtual components, which informs another high priority research area.
Innovation and impact: RECLAIM introduces a variety of brief mindfulness-based practices (averaging 10
minutes), which are integrated with additional components, such as education and group discussion, that focus
on aspects of Veterans' community reintegration (e.g., sleep, relationships). RECLAIM sessions expand on
traditional practice offerings (body scan, yoga) to include other mindfulness practices (inner resource,
restorative meditations) that have demonstrated positive impacts on participants' overall functioning and can
mitigate anxiety, stress, and depression. The variety of brief practices in RECLAIM allows Veterans to easily
integrate these practices into their daily lives and explore several types of practices to find what best meets
their needs. This approach increases the likelihood of continued engagement and, therefore, continued benefit.
Additionally, virtual delivery of RECLAIM is based on previous research suggesting that virtual offerings may
enhance Veterans' engagement with mindfulness-based interventions.
Specific aims: The specific aims of this project are (1) conduct a randomized controlled pilot study to assess
feasibility of the RECLAIM intervention; (2) conduct qualitative interviews to assess acceptability of RECLAIM;
and (3) refine and prepare the RECLAIM interventio...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10914178
- **Project number:** 5I21HX003699-02
- **Recipient organization:** RLR VA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Sarah Shue
- **Activity code:** I21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-01 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10914178

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10914178, Pilot Testing a Virtual Mindfulness-Based Intervention Aimed at Improving Reintegrating Veterans' Health Outcomes (5I21HX003699-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10914178. Licensed CC0.

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