Mental health referrals to the Falkland Islands British Military Mental Health Team, 1986-96.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the pattern of out-patient mental health care referrals for military personnel deployed to the Falklands Islands, 1986-96.

METHODS

Data from referral books of British Military Community Mental Health Nurses based in the Falkland Islands were abstracted, entered into an electronic database and analysed.

RESULTS

Over the period 1986-96, 538 Service personnel were referred to the mental health out-patient facility on the Falkland Islands. The majority were male (96%) and junior ranks (81%). Approximately a third of patients were referred for reasons relating to alcohol (31%) and for over two-thirds of patients no follow-up was required (68%). Differences were observed by Service with the Army having more referrals due to alcohol than the other two Services, whilst the Navy had more deliberate self-harm referrals and the RAF more referrals for anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS

The lack of information on the total population deployed to the Falkland Islands over this period limits the interpretation of the results.