Mental Health Disorders, Suicide Risk, and Treatment seeking among Formerly Deployed National Guard and Reserve Service Member seen in Non-VA Facilities
Abstract
The focus of the current study was to assess the prevalence of and risk factors for mental health disorders and variations in service use among National Guard and Reserve service members seem in non-VA facilities following deployments, compared to other era service members. Of the 1,730 veterans surveyed, 95% were male, 44% were under 64 years old, 96% were white race, 40% reported multiple warzone deployments, and 38% (n=665) had served as National Guard/Reserve service members. In addition, 23% (n=396) serviced in Iraq, Afghanistan, or the Global War on Terrorism. The prevalence of current PTSD was 5.4% (probable PTSD = 7.6%), current depression was 8%, 23% had used mental health services in the past year, and 50% had used the VA in the past year. The most common current disorder was related to alcohol misuse, with 24% of veterans screening positive on the AUDIT-C scale. In addition, 28% reported a history of concussion during their military service. Analyses indicated that PTSD, depression, mental health service use, alcohol misuse, suicidality, and stressful life events were more common among National Guard/Reserve veterans, compared to other era veterans (p-values < 0.05). However, other era veterans were more likely to rate themselves in "fair" or "poor" health and to report a service-connected disability (p-values < 0.05). Nevertheless, multivariable analyses that adjusted for demographic differences, level of combat exposure, current life stressors, and current social support, found no differences in mental health status and mental health service use among the veteran groups. To date, analyses suggest that while deployed National Guard/Reserve service members tended to have a higher prevalence of mental health disorders and mental health service use, when the data were adjusted for demographic difference and potential confounders, there were few differences in outcomes between these groups.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1044271
Entities
People
- Carrie A Withey
- Charles Figley
- H. L. Kirchner
- Joseph A. Boscarino
- Richard E Adams
- Stuart N. Hoffman
- Thomas G. Urosevich