Veterans Reported Reasons for Seeking Mental Health Treatment

摘要

MORE THAN ONE million soldiers have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, and an undetermined number have been deployed multiple times (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2006). Approximately 19% of soldiers returning from Iraq and 11% from Afghanistan screen positive for psychiatric problems (Hoge, Auchterlonie, & Milli-ken, 2006), and these percentages escalate for soldiers deployed multiple times (United States Army Surgeon General, 2006). These numbers contribute to an ever-increasing pool of citizens in need of mental health services.However, there is a gap between the large number of veterans who exhibit mental health problems and those who actually present for treatment. Less than half of veterans who exhibit mental health problems seek care, and they often express concerns about stigma and barriers to adequate care (Hoge et al., 2004). It is generally assumed that individuals do not seek treatment unless they are struggling and lack appropriate resources (Hubble, Duncan, & Miller, 2006); however, specific information about combat veterans' mental health treatment-seeking behavior tends to be limited.