Dance for Veterans: A complementary health program for veterans with serious mental illness

Background: Dance for Veterans, composed of physical, psychological and social elements, is a new patient-centered and recovery-oriented treatment modality for veterans diagnosed with serious mental illness; that is, chronic and functionally impairing psychoses, traumatic stress disorders, and mood and anxiety disorders. This report outlines the development of Dance for Veterans over the past several years within the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, including curricular rationale, training model and program evaluation. Methods: Participation was voluntary and required only a mental illness diagnosis. Survey data and qualitative feedback (N = 88), as well as verbal reports of stress (N = 35), were collected over 3-month periods to assess effects of the class on veterans' well-being. Results: Verbal reports of stress before and after class showed significant decreases (p < 0.001), and subjective responses to the classes were overwhelmingly positive. Significant longer-term trends in stress reduction, however, were not demonstrable. Conclusions: The Dance for Veterans program shows promise as an interdisciplinary resource for veterans diagnosed with serious mental illness. Future program development will include more detailed evaluation of its effects on veterans' well-being and extension to additional VA venues and populations.