The impact of potentially traumatic events on the mental health of males who have served in the military: Findings from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing.
OBJECTIVE
The study investigated the impact of potentially traumatic events on mental health outcomes among males who had ever served in the Australian Defence Force.


METHODS
Data from a nationally representative household survey of Australian residents, the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, were used for this study.


RESULTS
Compared with community members, Australian Defence Force males were significantly more likely to have experienced not only deployment and other war-like events but also accidents or other unexpected events, and trauma to someone close. For non-deployed males, Australian Defence Force members were at increased risk of accidents or other unexpected events compared to community members. After controlling for the effect of potentially traumatic events that were more prevalent among all Australian Defence Force members, the increased risk of mental disorders among Australian Defence Force members was no longer evident. For non-deployed males, Australian Defence Force and community members were at comparable risk of poor mental health outcomes. A significant minority of Australian Defence Force members had onset of a mental disorder prior to their first deployment.


CONCLUSIONS
Deployment and other potentially traumatic events among Australian Defence Force members can help to explain their increased vulnerability to mental disorders compared with community members. Providers should routinely enquire about a range of potentially traumatic events among serving and ex-serving military personnel.
1 Phoenix Australia and Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia.
Darryl
D
Wade
2 National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Louise
L
Mewton
1 Phoenix Australia and Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia.
Tracey
T
Varker
1 Phoenix Australia and Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia.
Andrea
A
Phelps
1 Phoenix Australia and Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia.
David
D
Forbes
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
Military; general population; mental health; trauma; veterans