| Nearly one quarter of military members suffer from at least one mental health diagnosis, and the incident rates are rising. Despite the increase in mental health conditions and related access to care, the number of military members who engage in psychological treatment has not grown proportionally. In this study, 322 U.S. Armed Forces military members across branches and current service statuses completed self-report surveys online. Results were analyzed using modified Structural Equation Modeling in order to determine the relationships between mental health conditions (posttraumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety, depression, alcohol use disorder, drug use disorder), stigma (personal stigma, perceived public stigma), and the willingness to seek mental health care. Results suggest that while only some mental health concerns predict a willingness to seek mental health treatment, almost all mental health concerns predict increased levels of personal stigma and perceived public stigma. Personal stigma and perceived public stigma generally predict diminished willingness to seek mental health care among military members. In some cases, these types of stigma reduce a military member's willingness to seek treatment, or even make it unlikely that a military member will be willing to seek help. Results, limitations, and future directions for research are discussed. Implications for clinical practice, policy, and social advocacy are also addressed. |
