Survey Intelligence Report
Kansas 2026
Veteran & Military Community Survey
A comprehensive analysis of 6,138 respondents across Kansas — revealing the most pressing concerns, demographic patterns, and actionable content opportunities for the veteran and military-connected community.
1
Who Responded: Audience Composition
The Kansas audience is predominantly a support network — 65% of respondents are friends or family/caregivers of military members, not veterans themselves. This is a critical insight for content framing.
Association
Gender
Age Distribution
Branch Affiliation
Device & Platform
2
Top Concerns: What Kansas Cares About Most
Respondents selected their top 3 concerns. Mental Health and Access to Healthcare dominate by a wide margin, together accounting for over 37% of all concern mentions — a clear signal for content prioritization.
3
Concern Clusters: What Gets Selected Together
Co-occurrence analysis reveals how concerns bundle in respondents’ minds. These pairings should inform content that addresses multiple issues simultaneously rather than in isolation.
Access to Healthcare + Mental Health
16.3%
Housing + Mental Health
8.4%
Jobs/Employment + Mental Health
7.8%
Access to Healthcare + Housing
7.2%
Finances + Mental Health
6.9%
Long Wait Times + Mental Health
6.7%
Access to Healthcare + Jobs
6.3%
Access to Healthcare + Finances
6.2%
Mental Health + Sleep
6.1%
Mental Health + Social Isolation
5.5%
4
Demographic Deep Dives: Notable Differences
While the top-line ranking is consistent across groups, subtle but meaningful differences emerge when slicing by association, gender, age, and branch — revealing which audiences need more targeted content.
| Segment | Differentiating Concern | Their Rate | Overall Rate | Delta | Implication |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active/Guard/Reserve | Long Wait Times | 7.5% | 6.2% | +1.3pp | Currently navigating the system — more frustrated by delays |
| Active/Guard/Reserve | Finances | 7.4% | 6.9% | +0.5pp | Financial strain during active service more acute |
| Veterans | Jobs/Employment | 7.5% | 7.3% | +0.2pp | Post-service employment transition remains top-of-mind |
| Family/Caregiver | Sleep / Chronic Pain | 6.3% / 5.0% | 5.8% / 4.8% | +0.5pp / +0.2pp | Caregivers witness daily physical toll and sleep disruption |
| Female Veterans | Housing / Jobs | 9.3% / 8.5% | 8.1% / 7.3% | +1.2pp / +1.2pp | Female veterans face heightened economic insecurity |
| Coast Guard | Housing / Finances | 9.0% / 8.4% | 8.1% / 6.9% | +0.9pp / +1.5pp | Smallest branch — may have fewer support resources |
| 65+ Age Group | Mental Health / Sleep | 21.7% / 7.6% | 20.3% / 5.8% | +1.4pp / +1.8pp | Older veterans: mental health concerns intensify, not fade |
| 18–24 Age Group | Access to Healthcare | 18.0% | 16.6% | +1.4pp | Youngest respondents struggling more with system navigation |
5
Key Strategic Insights
Audience Insight
This Is a Supporter Audience, Not Just a Veteran Audience
65.1% of respondents are friends or family/caregivers — not veterans themselves. Content should speak to people who want to help someone they care about, not just to veterans directly. Frame CTAs as “here’s how you can support them” alongside direct veteran messaging.
Content Priority
Mental Health + Healthcare Access Is the Dominant Narrative
Together these two concerns represent 37% of all mentions and co-occur in 16.3% of respondents. They are not separate topics — Kansas respondents see them as deeply interconnected. Content should address the mental health journey through the lens of navigating the healthcare system.
Hidden Pattern
Concerns Cluster Into Three “Life Domains”
Health cluster: Mental Health + Healthcare Access + Wait Times + Chronic Pain + Sleep (62% of mentions). Economic cluster: Housing + Jobs + Finances (22%). Social cluster: Social Isolation + Relationships + Emotional Health (12%). Content series should map to these clusters.
Gender Insight
Female Veterans Face a Double Burden
Female veterans over-index on Housing (+1.2pp) and Jobs/Employment (+1.2pp) compared to overall. They also represent only 15.9% of the veteran pool but 39.8% of Family/Caregivers — carrying both their own challenges and caregiving duties. Dedicated content for women veterans is essential.
Age Insight
Mental Health Concerns Don’t Fade With Age — They Intensify
The 65+ cohort reports the highest rate of mental health concern (21.7%) and the second-highest sleep concern (7.6%). This contradicts assumptions that older veterans have “moved past” service-related issues. Messaging should not neglect this group.
System Frustration
Active Service Members Feel the Wait-Time Pain Most
Active/Guard/Reserve respondents rate Long Wait Times at 7.5% vs. 5.7% for veterans — a +1.8pp gap. They’re actively in the system and feeling its friction. Content aimed at this group should acknowledge system frustrations and provide workaround strategies.
Platform Insight
Mobile-First Is Non-Negotiable
90.4% of respondents accessed the survey via mobile (iOS and Android nearly split 50/50). All content — landing pages, resources, videos, articles — must be optimized for mobile consumption. Long-form PDFs and desktop-heavy experiences will miss the majority of this audience.
Branch Insight
Army + Air Force Are 55% of the Audience, but Don’t Ignore the Rest
Army (30.4%) and Air Force (25.2%) dominate. Coast Guard (4.6%) and Navy (10.6%) are smaller but show elevated concern rates for Housing and Finances. Branch-specific references in content (imagery, language, culture) improve relatability and engagement.
6
Content Creation Recommendations
Based on the data patterns above, here are specific content opportunities ranked by potential audience impact and alignment with survey findings.
01
Pillar Content
“Navigating Mental Health Care in Kansas” Guide Series
A mobile-optimized, multi-part series addressing both how to access mental health resources AND how to navigate wait times and healthcare access barriers. Combines the #1 and #2 concerns into one cohesive content experience. Include sections for “How to help someone you care about.”
Primary: Family/Caregivers & Friends (65%) · Secondary: Veterans
02
Targeted Campaign
“The Support Circle” — Content for Military Supporters
Dedicated content acknowledging the friend/family audience who make up the majority. Topics: recognizing signs of mental health struggles, starting difficult conversations, caregiver burnout, and how to connect someone to resources without overstepping. This audience is hungry for guidance on how to help.
Primary: Friends (35.8%) & Family/Caregivers (29.3%)
03
Video / Social
Short-Form “Real Talk” Series on Housing + Jobs + Finances
The economic cluster (Housing, Jobs, Finances) accounts for 22% of all concerns. Create mobile-first short-form video content addressing practical, actionable steps: VA home loan tips, resume translation from military to civilian, financial literacy for transitioning members.
Primary: Veterans (25-54) · Secondary: Female Veterans
04
Targeted Content
Female Veteran Spotlight & Resources
Female veterans show elevated Housing and Employment concerns (+1.2pp each). Create dedicated content addressing the unique challenges women veterans face — including gender-specific VA resources, women-veteran networking groups in Kansas, and stories of female veteran success in civilian careers.
Primary: Female Veterans (n=248) & Female Family/Caregivers
05
Evergreen Resource
“Beat the Wait” — Healthcare Navigation Toolkit
Active duty members feel wait-time pain most acutely (+1.8pp vs veterans). Build a toolkit with tips on: community care options, telehealth alternatives, urgent vs. non-urgent pathways, and how to escalate within the VA system. Make it shareable so friends/family can forward it.
Primary: Active/Guard/Reserve (9.5%) · Secondary: All groups
06
Awareness Campaign
“It Doesn’t Fade” — Older Veteran Mental Health
Counter the narrative that older veterans have “moved on.” The 65+ group shows the highest mental health concern rate (21.7%). Content featuring older veteran voices, late-life mental health resources, and the message that it’s never too late to seek help. Also address sleep issues (7.6% — highest of any age group).
Primary: 55-64 & 65+ respondents (25.1% of audience)
07
Community Building
Social Isolation & Connection Initiatives
Social isolation (983 mentions) co-occurs with mental health in 5.5% of respondents. Create content around local Kansas veteran meetups, peer support programs, and digital community spaces. The friend audience (35.8%) is a natural bridge — empower them to invite and include.
Primary: Veterans & Friends · Format: Mobile social content
08
Branch-Specific
Branch-Tailored Resource Pages
Create 6 branch-specific landing pages with tailored imagery, language, and resource links. Army and Air Force get priority (55% of audience), but Coast Guard members — who over-index on Financial and Housing concerns — deserve dedicated attention despite their smaller numbers.
All branches · Personalization drives engagement
7
At a Glance: Numbers That Matter
Top Concern
Mental Health
3,731 mentions — 20.3% of all concern slots. #1 across every demographic, age group, branch, and association type without exception.
Strongest Pairing
16.3%
of respondents selected both Access to Healthcare and Mental Health — the dominant concern cluster by a wide margin.
Support Network
65.1%
of respondents are friends or family/caregivers — the majority audience is people trying to help, not veterans themselves.
Core Age Band
35–54
54.8% of respondents fall in this range. This is the primary content demographic — mid-career, mid-life, family-stage individuals.
Mobile Dominance
90.4%
accessed via mobile. iOS and Android are nearly tied (46.7% vs 46.6%). Content must be mobile-first, platform-agnostic.
Veteran Gender Gap
83 / 16%
Male to female veteran split. Female veterans show elevated economic concerns — a distinct content opportunity.