title: Mental health of Canadian Forces members while on deployment to Afghanistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The deployed environment poses special challenges to the delivery of effective in-theatre mental health care. Our study sought to identify the prevalence and impact of symptoms of mental health problems in Canadian Forces (CF) personnel serving in Task Force Afghanistan; and, to determine the use of, and perceived need for, mental health services in CF personnel while deployed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study consisted of a cross-sectional survey of all 2779 CF personnel deployed to the province of Kandahar, Afghanistan, from February 15, 2010, to March 15, 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An important minority (8.5%) of the 1572 respondents (response rate = 57%) exceeded civilian criteria for symptoms of acute traumatic stress, major depression, or generalized anxiety. Prevalence of these 3 mental health problems increased with higher combat exposure and location in more isolated posts. A much larger fraction (31%) reported suffering a stress, emotional, alcohol, or family problem during the deployment. Only a minority of respondents with a mental health problem (26%) were currently interested in getting help. Almost one-half of respondents with a mental health problem perceived occupational dysfunction as a result, though two-thirds of respondents with occupational dysfunction were in the group without the 3 mental health problems assessed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The needs base for psychosocial support extends beyond personnel who meet conventional questionnaire criteria for traumatic stress, depression, or generalized anxiety. Future research is needed to understand what precise problems are driving this larger needs base and what precise supports (clinical or nonclinical) would be most appropriate.
authors.affiliation: Canadian Forces Health Services Group Headquarters, Ottawa, Ontario. bryan.garber@forces.gc.ca
authors.forename: Bryan G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Garber
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Zamorski
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jetly
mesh_terms: D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D008890:Military Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D040701:Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires