Abstract
Long COVID remains a pressing health concern among Americans, with current data suggesting that 45% of those infected by COVID-19 experience at least one symptom of Long COVID. Veterans are a particularly at-risk population due to their unique demographic characteristics and lived experiences. Despite this, there has been a lack of treatment development for Long COVID that targets mental health symptoms and is veteran specific. There is a need for effective treatments to help veterans cope with a Long COVID diagnosis and recovery. This quality improvement project aims to gain insight into the lived experiences and mental health needs of veterans with Long COVID to help inform future treatment development. A sample of 21 veterans (57% male, 67% Black, 43% Hispanic) participated in qualitative interviews where they were asked 23 questions about their experiences living with Long COVID and seeking medical treatment, as well as their ongoing mental health needs. Qualitative data were extracted from these interviews and analyzed. Four main themes were identified: interpersonal concerns and challenges with social interaction; difficulties with day-to-day living; barriers and facilitators to accessing medical treatment; and mental health effects and attitudes toward psychotherapy. Veterans described significant impairments in functioning, as well as feelings of isolation and loneliness. These findings demonstrate the need for a psychotherapeutic intervention that can facilitate interpersonal connection, improve functioning, and decrease psychiatric symptoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).