University Outreach and Engagement-National Guard Project, Michigan State University, 22 Kellogg Center, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Psychiatr Serv. 2011 Jan;62(1):28-34. doi: 10.1176/ps.62.1.pss6201_0028.
National Guard forces have deployed in large numbers to Iraq and Afghanistan since September 11, 2001. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess mental health symptoms, utilization of mental health services, and perceived barriers to service use among National Guard members and their significant others (including spouses and others with whom they share a committed relationship) from a Midwestern state.
Participants were recruited for the study at military-sponsored reintegration workshops, which took place 45-90 days after service members' return from deployment. A sample of 332 National Guard members and 212 significant others volunteered to complete a survey that assessed mental health symptoms, service utilization, and barriers to treatment.
Forty percent of National Guard members and 34% of significant others met the screening criteria for one or more mental health problems. Of those meeting the criteria, 53% reported seeking help of some kind (50% of soldiers; 61% of significant others). Stigma associated with mental health care and concerns about service utilization appearing on military records ranked high as barriers among service members. Concerns about the influence of mental health issues on career advancement were of note. For significant others, barriers included the costs of mental health care, trouble with scheduling appointments, difficulty in getting time off work, and not knowing where to get help.
The mental health effects of combat on the soldier and his or her significant other remain a challenge for National Guard families, who often reside in communities that show little understanding of the psychological costs of war. Barriers remain for mental health service utilization.
自 2001 年 9 月 11 日以来，国民警卫队大量部署到伊拉克和阿富汗。本横断面研究的目的是评估来自中西部一个州的国民警卫队成员及其重要他人（包括配偶和与之有承诺关系的其他人）的心理健康症状、心理健康服务的利用情况以及对服务利用的感知障碍。
在军事主办的复员转业研讨会上招募了研究参与者，这些研讨会在服务人员部署返回后 45-90 天举行。332 名国民警卫队成员和 212 名重要他人自愿参加了一项调查，该调查评估了心理健康症状、服务利用情况和治疗障碍。
40%的国民警卫队成员和 34%的重要他人符合一种或多种心理健康问题的筛选标准。在符合标准的人群中，53%报告寻求过某种帮助（50%的士兵；61%的重要他人）。与心理健康护理相关的污名和对军事记录中服务利用的担忧被列为服务成员的主要障碍。对心理健康问题对职业发展的影响的担忧值得注意。对于重要他人，障碍包括心理健康护理费用、预约困难、难以请假和不知道在哪里寻求帮助。
战斗对士兵及其重要他人的心理健康影响仍然是国民警卫队家庭面临的挑战，他们通常居住在对战争心理代价缺乏了解的社区中。心理健康服务利用的障碍仍然存在。
