Trends in mental health services utilization and stigma in US soldiers from 2002 to 2011

P.J. Quartana, J.E. Wilk, J.L. Thomas, R.M. Bray, K.L.R. Olmsted, J.M. Brown, J. Williams, P.Y. Kim, K. Clarke-Walper and C.W. Hoge

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 9, 1671-1679

Abstract: Objectives. We characterized trends in mental health services utilization and stigma over the course of the Afghanistan and Iraq warsamong active-component US soldiers. Methods. We evaluated trends in mental health services utilization and stigma using US Army data from the Health-Related Behavior (HRB) surveys from 2002, 2005, and 2008 (n = 12 835) and the Land Combat Study (LCS) surveys administered to soldiers annually from 2003 to 2009 and again in 2011 (n = 22 627). Results. HRB and LCS data suggested increasedmental health services utilization and decreased stigma in US soldiers between 2002 and 2011. These trends were evident in soldiers with and without posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), or PTSD and MDD. Despite the improving trends, more than half of soldiers with mental health problems did not report seeking care. Conclusions. Mental health services utilization increased and stigma decreased over the course of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Although promising, these findings indicate that a significant proportion of US soldiers meeting criteria for PTSD or MDD do not utilize mental health services, and stigma remains a pervasive problem requiring further attention.

Keywords: adolescent; adult; article; female; health survey; human; major depression; male; mental disease; mental health service; posttraumatic stress disorder; psychological aspect; social stigma; socioeconomics; soldier; United States; utilization review; war; young adult, Adolescent; Adult; Afghan Campaign 2001-; Depressive Disorder, Major; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Iraq War, 2003-2011; Male; Mental Disorders; Mental Health Services; Military Personnel; Social Stigma; Socioeconomic Factors; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; United States; Young Adult (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.301971_5

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.301971

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