Beneficiary Mental Health Care Access

Abstract

The United States (US) is experiencing a mental health (MH) crisis. Diagnosis rates for MH disorders are rising steadily, especially among younger Americans. These trends were exacerbated by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In the face of high and rising demand for MH care, the supply of MH providers has proven inadequate. This national crisis harms Americas military families by layering additional burdens atop those inherent to military family life: frequent moves, deployments, and a rigorous operations tempo in both deployed and non-deployed settings. The Military Health System (MHS) currently lacks the resources it needs, in terms of providers and treatment options, to meet the MH needs of its beneficiary population: Service members (SMs), retirees, and military families. The MHS provides for beneficiaries' health care needs through its direct and purchased care systems. Active Duty SMs (ADSMs) primarily access direct care at military treatment facilities (MTFs). Military family members, including dependent spouses and children, primarily access care through the purchased care system, which is an external network of contracted civilian providers. Rising demand for MH care subjects military families to severe access barriers, including waitlists and "ghost networks" (i.e., MH provider networks with few, if any, available providers). These delays compromise military family well-being and military readiness. The military requires mentally fit SMs supported by mentally fit families. Increasing rates of youth MH disorders further compromise readiness by reducing the pool of future recruits. This concern takes on additional weight for children of military families, given their higher-than-average propensity to serve. On July 7, 2022, the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (ASD(HA)) directed the Defense Health Board (DHB), through its Neurological/Behavioral Health Subcommittee, to provide recommendations to enhance the MHS.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 28, 2023
Accession Number
AD1206266

Entities

People

  • Alex B Valadka
  • Jennifer Belding
  • Jeremy Lazarus
  • Karen Guice
  • Raghu Upender
  • Sonia Alemagno

Organizations

  • Defense Health Board

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Depression
  • Drug Abuse
  • Employment
  • Hallucinogens
  • Health Services
  • Human Behavior
  • Lysergic Acids
  • Management Personnel
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Medicine
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychiatry
  • Recreation
  • Social Psychology
  • Students
  • Therapy
  • Traumatic Stress Disorder

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Economics
  • Medical or Health Care Field.
  • Mental Health of Military Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Risk Factors, Prevalence, Symptoms, and Treatment.