An assessment of beliefs about mental health care among veterans who served in Iraq

Psychiatr Serv. 2007 Oct;58(10):1358-61. doi: 10.1176/ps.2007.58.10.1358.

Abstract

Objective: This study assessed beliefs about mental health treatment in a group of soldiers newly returning from the war in Iraq.

Methods: Participants were 20 National Guard soldiers who had served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Soldiers who in phone interviews screened positive for a mental disorder were asked about advantages and disadvantages of seeking treatment, who would or would not support treatment seeking, and facilitators and barriers to treatment seeking.

Results: Stigma was portrayed as a major disadvantage to treatment seeking. Yet most participants indicated that people would be supportive of treatment seeking. Reducing symptoms was a major advantage of care. Barriers, especially those viewed as "self-induced," such as pride, not being able to ask for help, and not being able to admit to having a problem, were considered major impediments.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that interventions developed to engage veterans in care must be directed toward cognitive factors that motivate treatment seeking.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Iraq
  • Male
  • Mental Health Services*
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / psychology*
  • United States
  • Veterans / psychology*