title: Demographic, clinical, and military factors related to military mental health referral patterns.
abstract: This study examined 693 cases of active duty members from all service branches seen in an Air Force outpatient mental health clinic over a 3-year period. Age, gender, rank, marital status, duty status, presence of special duty status, diagnostic category, and recommendations to the member's unit were examined across referral sources (i.e., self-referred, referred by others in authority, and command-ordered). Results showed significant differences across all variables, with self-referred members being more likely to be older, higher ranking, and married. Permanently assigned members were more likely than students to self-refer. Members with special duty status were less likely to self-refer. Self-referred members were less likely to have recommendations made with negative career impacts. The implications of these findings in terms of targeting interventions to increase self-initiated help-seeking behavior as well as recommendations for future research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: 17 MDOS/SGOFMY, Mental Health Service, Goodfellow AFB, TX 76904-4902, USA.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Rowan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012189:Retrospective Studies