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An Assessment of Beliefs About Mental Health Care Among Veterans Who Served in Iraq

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed beliefs about mental health treatment in a group of soldiers newly returning from the war in Iraq. METHODS: Participants were 20 National Guard soldiers who had served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Soldiers who in phone interviews screened positive for a mental disorder were asked about advantages and disadvantages of seeking treatment, who would or would not support treatment seeking, and facilitators and barriers to treatment seeking. RESULTS: Stigma was portrayed as a major disadvantage to treatment seeking. Yet most participants indicated that people would be supportive of treatment seeking. Reducing symptoms was a major advantage of care. Barriers, especially those viewed as "self-induced," such as pride, not being able to ask for help, and not being able to admit to having a problem, were considered major impediments. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that interventions developed to engage veterans in care must be directed toward cognitive factors that motivate treatment seeking.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Y. Kim, J. L. Thomas, J. E. Wilk, C. A. Castro, and C. W. Hoge Stigma, Barriers to Care, and Use of Mental Health Services Among Active Duty and National Guard Soldiers After Combat Psychiatr Serv, June 1, 2010; 61(6): 582 - 588. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. S. Wortzel, I. A. Binswanger, C. A. Anderson, and L. E. Adler Suicide Among Incarcerated Veterans J Am Acad Psychiatry Law, March 1, 2009; 37(1): 82 - 91. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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