Manietta Luke, McLaughlin Sarah, MacArthur Matthew, Landmann Jack, Kumbalatara Chesmi, Love Madeleine, McDaniel Justin
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA.
College of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA.
J Community Health. 2025 Feb;50(1):172-177. doi: 10.1007/s10900-024-01408-8. Epub 2024 Oct 5.
Veterans face unique mental health challenges influenced by their service experiences and post-military transitions into civilian life. Geographic location also plays an integral role in impacting veterans' outcomes and access to proper care. The purpose of this case study is to examine disparities between rural and urban veterans in the Midwest using data collected from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Self-reported bad mental health days among veterans in rural and urban regions across twelve Midwestern states were analyzed through direct rate estimation and small area estimation techniques utilizing RStudio software. Higher rates of poor mental health days were ultimately observed among urban veterans in most states through both analyses. The results of the direct rate analysis revealed 13.5% of veterans reporting 14 + poor mental health days per month versus 9.5% in rural areas. Likewise, the results of the small area analysis demonstrated 12.2% of veterans reporting 14 + days of poor mental health days per month in urban areas versus 9.8% in rural areas. This highlights the significance of environmental stressors and social determinants of health in differentially impacting mental health outcomes. Thus, tailored interventions utilizing interdisciplinary teams are needed to meet the unique barriers for veterans in different geographic contexts. Despite the cross-sectional nature of the study and reliance on self-reported data, this case study provides valuable insights for mental health disparities among Midwest veterans. Creating a more equitable and accessible mental health landscape for veterans will require targeted and collaborative approaches.
退伍军人面临着独特的心理健康挑战，这些挑战受到他们的服役经历以及从军队过渡到平民生活的影响。地理位置在影响退伍军人的状况和获得适当护理方面也起着不可或缺的作用。本案例研究的目的是利用从2022年行为风险因素监测系统（BRFSS）收集的数据，研究美国中西部农村和城市退伍军人之间的差异。通过使用RStudio软件的直接比率估计和小区域估计技术，分析了美国中西部十二个州农村和城市地区退伍军人自我报告的心理健康不佳天数。通过这两种分析最终观察到，在大多数州，城市退伍军人心理健康不佳天数的比率更高。直接比率分析的结果显示，13.5%的退伍军人报告每月有14天及以上心理健康不佳，而农村地区这一比例为9.5%。同样，小区域分析的结果表明，城市地区12.2%的退伍军人报告每月有14天及以上心理健康不佳，而农村地区为9.8%。这凸显了环境压力源和健康的社会决定因素对心理健康结果产生不同影响的重要性。因此，需要利用跨学科团队制定针对性的干预措施，以应对不同地理环境中退伍军人面临的独特障碍。尽管本研究具有横断面性质且依赖自我报告数据，但该案例研究为美国中西部退伍军人的心理健康差异提供了有价值的见解。为退伍军人创造一个更公平、更易获得的心理健康环境将需要有针对性的协作方法。
