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

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.