Footnotes

• Contributors This larger study was the lead author’s thesis as part of the requirements of the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology supervised by JM, JHH and AB. The idea and drafts of this paper have been written by the lead author (NS). JM, JHH and AB have reviewed and commented on the drafts of this article. AB assisted with onsite field supervision to support identification and recruitment of participants.

• Funding This paper is an editorial commentary on a key theme identified in a larger study (Deciding to access psychological support: A theoretical model for the decision-making process for military veterans). This larger study was facilitated to fulfil the research component of the lead author's training as part of the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Liverpool.

• Competing interests None declared.

• Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.