Veteran help-seeking behaviour for mental health issues: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjmilitary-2021-001903
Author(s):  
Rebecca Randles ◽  
A Finnegan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Mental Health Issue ◽  
Male Veterans ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
The Usa

IntroductionServing military personnel and veterans have been identified to have a high prevalence of mental health disorders. Despite this, only a significantly small number seek mental healthcare. With the UK beginning to invest further support to the armed forces community, identification of barriers and facilitators of help-seeking behaviour is needed.MethodsCorresponding literature search was conducted in PsycINFO, PsycArticles, Medline, Web of Science and EBSCO. Articles which discussed barriers and facilitators of seeking help for mental health concerns in the veteran population were included. Those which discussed serving personnel or physical problems were not included within this review. A total of 26 papers were analysed.ResultsA number of barriers and facilitators of help-seeking for a mental health issue within the veteran population were identified. Barriers included stigma, military culture of stoicism and self-reliance, as well as deployment characteristics of combat exposure and different warzone deployments. Health service difficulties such as access and lack of understanding by civilian staff were also identified. Facilitators to help combat these barriers included a campaign to dispel the stigma, including involvement of veterans and training of military personnel, as well as more accessibility and understanding from healthcare staff.ConclusionsWhile some barriers and facilitators have been identified, much of this research has been conducted within the USA and on male veterans and lacks longitudinal evidence. Further research is needed within the context of other nations and female veterans and to further indicate the facilitators of help-seeking among veterans.

Mental Health, Help-Seeking Behaviour and Social Support in the UK Armed Forces by Gender

Psychiatry ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Norman Jones ◽  
Neil Greenberg ◽  
Ava Phillips ◽  
Amos Simms ◽  
Simon Wessely
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
The Uk

scholarly journals Perinatal mental health around the world: priorities for research and service development in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 50-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Eliane Schwank ◽  
Qiongjie Zhou ◽  
Yanling He ◽  
Ganesh Acharya
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Community Healthcare ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

China's healthcare is improving together with rapid economic growth. Yet, mental healthcare is lagging behind. Prevalence of perinatal depression is high among women of the one-child generation, but access to qualified care is limited. Chinese healthcare professionals, policy makers and patients alike express concerns about insufficient knowledge among the public as well as healthcare providers regarding mental disorders. There appears to be a general lack of help-seeking behaviour for mental disorders owing to perceived risk of social stigmatisation. Social support through family and friends, use of online resources and community healthcare services are preferred, rather than seeking help from mental health specialists.

scholarly journals Relationship between obesity and health problems in help-seeking military veterans

2019 ◽  
pp. jramc-2019-001155
Author(s):  
Victoria Williamson ◽  
A Rossetto ◽  
D Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Population ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Psychological Treatment ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Physical And Mental Health

BackgroundUK Armed Forces (UK AF) veterans may be particularly vulnerable to obesity and its comorbid physical and mental health problems.AimTo examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI), physical health problems, mental health disorders and sociodemographic characteristics in UK AF veterans engaged in psychological treatment.MethodsInformation regarding veteran BMI, demographic characteristics, physical health conditions and mental health problems was collected and analysed using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Rates of veteran obesity were also compared with the UK general population.ResultsOf the 384 help-seeking veterans, 37.5% (n=151) were overweight (BMI 26–30) and 35.5% (n=143) were obese. Obesity in help-seeking male veterans was two to four times higher than that of the general population of UK. Higher scores on measures of anger and common mental health problems were significantly associated with greater BMI. Problems with physical systemic functioning and mobility were also significantly associated with greater BMI.ConclusionsThe results indicate that treatment-seeking UK AF veterans exhibit higher levels of obesity compared with the general population, and clinically significant physical and mental comorbidities. The findings highlight a need for mental health services to offer treatments that effectively integrate physical and mental healthcare in the treatment of people with mental health problems.

Military psychologists and cultural competence: exploring implications for the manifestation and treatment of psychological trauma in the British armed forces

2019 ◽  
Vol 165 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-86
Author(s):  
Imogen Sturgeon-Clegg ◽  
M McCauley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Psychological Trauma ◽  
Leadership Roles ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Psychological Injuries ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Military

This paper considers the manifestation and treatment of psychological trauma in the military. The article describes how military psychologists conceptualise psychological trauma within the culture of the Armed Forces (AF), which is reflected in the process of acquiring what has been referred to as cultural competency. Psychologists in this context acquire an understanding of the manner in which the psychological and organisational systems and culture of the military affect the presentation of psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The paper outlines core psychological features of military life, including some of the ways in which the AF functions effectively as an adaptable fighting force. This highlights, for example, the potential for stigma within and between military personnel who experience mental health difficulties. The article proceeds to examine aspects of help-seeking in military mental healthcare, how symptoms can present at different stages in a deployment process, and the consequences that such problems can cause for military conduct and performance. Psychological care in the military is structured within an occupational mental health ethos, in which psychologists fulfil a range of clinical, organisational and leadership roles. These dynamics are explored with examples of care pathways and clarity on evidence-based interventions for trauma and PTSD in those experiencing military-related psychological injuries. Two vignettes are then offered to illustrate how some of these interventions can be used psychotherapeutically in addressing symptoms pertaining to hyperarousal, hypervigilance, guilt and shame.

scholarly journals Stigma-related barriers and facilitators to help seeking for mental health issues in the armed forces: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative literature

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (11) ◽  
pp. 1880-1892 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Coleman ◽  
S. A. M. Stevelink ◽  
S. L. Hatch ◽  
J. A. Denny ◽  
N. Greenberg
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Thematic Synthesis ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Current Systematic Review ◽  
Qualitative Literature

A recent quantitative review in the area of stigma and help seeking in the armed forces has questioned the association between these factors (Sharp et al. 2015). To date, the contribution of qualitative literature in this area has largely been ignored, despite the value this research brings to the understanding of complex social constructs such as stigma. The aim of the current systematic review of qualitative studies was to identify appropriate literature, assess the quality and synthesize findings across studies regarding evidence of stigma-related barriers and facilitators to help seeking for mental health issues within the armed forces. A multi-database text word search incorporating searches of PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Social Policy and Practice, Social Work Abstracts, EMBASE, ERIC and EBM Review databases between 1980 and April 2015 was conducted. Literature was quality assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. Thematic synthesis was conducted across the literature. The review identified eight studies with 1012 participants meeting the inclusion criteria. Five overarching themes were identified across the literature: (1) non-disclosure; (2) individual beliefs about mental health; (3) anticipated and personal experience of stigma; (4) career concerns; and (5) factors influencing stigma. The findings from the current systematic review found that unlike inconsistent findings in the quantitative literature, there was substantial evidence of a negative relationship between stigma and help seeking for mental health difficulties within the armed forces. The study advocates for refinement of measures to accurately capture the complexity of stigma and help seeking in future quantitative studies.

What drives UK military personnel to seek mental healthcare, work strain or something else?

2018 ◽  
Vol 164 (4) ◽  
pp. 248-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norman Jones ◽  
R Coetzee
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Work Strain ◽  
Healthcare Work ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Seeking Help ◽  
Adjusted Logistic Regression

BackgroundThe numbers of UK military personnel referred to military departments of community mental health (DCMH) have increased annually over recent years; the reasons for such an increase are unclear.MethodData for this study were derived from 549 DCMH attendees and 3682 serving regular military personnel. DCMH attendees completed a checklist of potential reasons for help-seeking. Cohort members provided data on perceived mental health problems and help-seeking from specialist mental health services. Both samples provided work strain and basic sociodemographic data. Work strain levels were compared among cohort and DCMH help seekers and non-help seekers using adjusted logistic regression analyses.ResultsPerceiving that mental health-related stigmatisation had reduced and being prompted to seek help by attending a health promotion event were among the least frequent reasons for seeking help in DCMH attendees. Realising that help was needed and being urged to seek help by one’s partner, friends or family were the most common. Working very hard and experiencing excessive work were the most common work strain factors. Overall, the greatest levels of work strain were found among DCMH attendees. In all subsamples, work strain was significantly associated with experiencing a perceived mental health problem irrespective of whether help was sought or not.ConclusionWork strain was significantly associated with experiencing a stressful, emotional, mental health or alcohol problem and was the highest among current DCMH help seekers. Recognising that help was required and being prompted by a significant other were the main drivers for help-seeking among DCMH attendees.

scholarly journals Help-Seeking Experiences of Youth with Suicidal Ideations

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 22-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika K. Neilson ◽  
Marissa Y. Mar ◽  
Iris Torchalla ◽  
Gregory R. Werker ◽  
Allison Laing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Mental Health Issue ◽  
Theoretical Spectrum ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Treatment Perceptions ◽  
Healthcare Experiences ◽  
Seeking Behavior

Approximately 28 percent of Canadians begin to experience a mental health issue during their youth. In this article, we explore patients' perceptions of their mental healthcare experiences within a sample of youth who reported anxiety or depressive symptoms and past suicidal ideations. The study data is taken from in-depth interviews with 23 youth in British Columbia. Interview topics included support systems, help-seeking behavior and healthcare experiences. Our findings indicate that participant experiences were most positive when experiences were neither dismissive nor stigmatizing. Important factors for participants were respect, acknowledgement, information and choice. Our results generated the concept that treatment perceptions for youth with suicidal behaviours can be placed on a theoretical spectrum, which may be a useful tool for self reflection for those who support individuals with mental health conditions professionally or personally.

scholarly journals Understanding barriers to accessing mental health services for newcomers to Canada using Peterborough, Ontario, as an illustrative example

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurun Layla Chowdhury
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Accurate Information

The quality of an individual’s mental health has a significant impact on their quality of life, as well as on the cost to society. Regular access to mental health services can help mitigate the risk factors of developing mental illnesses. This paper examines barriers to accessing mental health services, using the community of Peterborough, Ontario, as an example. Social, economic, and cultural barriers impact help-seeking amongst immigrants, putting them at a higher risk of developing mental disorders. The social determinants of mental health can be useful when developing policies aimed at improving utilization of mental healthcare services. Policy makers need to first focus on collecting accurate information on the population, and then developing targeted solutions to eliminate barriers such as language and employment that prevent help-seeking in immigrants.

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