Soldier attitudes toward mental health screening and seeking care upon return from combat.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined soldier attitudes about postdeployment mental health screening, treatment, barriers to care, strategies for overcoming barriers, and settings, personnel and timing for conducting postdeployment mental health screening.


METHODS
Deploying soldiers participated in a voluntary anonymous survey.


RESULTS
Of 3,294 soldiers, 2,678 (81.3%) responded to the survey. When the three most endorsed perceived barriers to mental health care (negative perception by unit members, negative perception by leaders, and being viewed as weak) were examined, approximately 15% fewer soldiers endorsed the perceptions, compared with a previous study conducted at the beginning of the war. Receipt of training focused on managing psychological problems associated with increased agreement to seek treatment. Participants endorsed surveys, interviews, and unit providers as preferred instruments and providers for postdeployment screening. Soldiers endorsed encouragement from family members and friends as the preferred approach to reducing barriers to mental health care.


CONCLUSIONS
Extensive educational programs seemed to have reduced the stigma related to receiving mental health care. Programs that focus on friend and family member encouragement of soldiers to seek mental health assistance should continue. Postdeployment screening should be conducted under conditions in which soldiers are most likely to report problems honestly.
Warner
Christopher H
CH
Third Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA 31314, USA.
Appenzeller
George N
GN
Mullen
Keri
K
Warner
Carolynn M
CM
Grieger
Thomas
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology*; D008603:Mental Health; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014857:Warfare