Prevalence of Mental Health Problems, Treatment Need, and Barriers to Care among Primary Care-Seeking Spouses of Military Service Members Involved in Iraq and Afghanistan Deployments

Abstract

Military spouses must contend with unique issues such as a mobile lifestyle, rules and regulations of military life, and frequent family separations including peacekeeping and combat deployments. These issues may have an adverse effect on the health of military spouses. This study examined the mental health status, rates of care utilization, source of care, as well as barriers and stigma of mental health care utilization among military spouses who were seeking care in military primary care clinics. The data show spouses have similar rates of mental health problems compared to soldiers. Spouses were more likely to seek care for their mental health problems and were less concerned with the stigma of mental health care than were soldiers. Services were most often received from primary care physicians, rather than specialty mental health professionals, which may relate to the lack of availability of mental health services for spouses on military installations.

The Deployment Life Study: Longitudinal Analysis of Military Families Across the Deployment Cycle

“…One study suggests that it may be not only duration of deployment, but extended deployments that exacerbate psychological and behavioral health symptoms (SteelFisher, Zaslavsky, and Blendon, 2008) while another finds increased symptomatology in the postdeployment period when spouses perceive that their service members have such symptoms but do not report having them (Renshaw, Rodrigues, and Jones, 2008). On the other hand, spouses are more likely to seek care and are less concerned about stigma associated with accessing mental health care than their spouses (Eaton et al, 2008;Gorman et al, 2011;Renshaw, Rodrigues, and Jones, 2008).…”

A Qualitative Analysis of Military Couples With High and Low Trauma Symptoms and Relationship Distress Levels

“…The resulting strain imposed on couples and families by the primary trauma survivor frequently encourages the development of secondary trauma symptoms in family members. The circular and mutually influential nature of trauma, coupled with the high numbers of returning OIF/OEF/OND veterans with PTSD, has created a situation in which countless couples may experience stress as a result of the complications created by exposure to war trauma (Di Nola, 2008;Eaton et al, 2008;Nelson Goff et al, 2007;Renshaw et al, 2008).…”

Community Family Therapy with Military Families Experiencing Deployment

“…In addition, there may be barriers related to mental health care provided by the military, such as the need to go off-base for mental health services as well as awareness of resources, finances, and child care responsibilities more generally (Eaton et al 2008).…”