Literature Review/Introduction

The first source, "Mental Health Beliefs and Their Relationship With Treatment Seeking Among U.S. OEF/OIF Veterans," describes through the data collected, the multitude of barriers to care many veterans may face in their lifetimes. This study's data was collected and analyzed through the use of surveys that asked questions pertaining to the concerns around stigma that veterans believe exist in the workplace and among their loved ones, along with their negative beliefs surrounding mental illnesses, treatment seeking and the treatment itself. The study included 640 participants with the weight of male and female genders having been over-sampled to allow for a gender-stratified analysis. The goals of this study were broken down into three "aims" provided by the researchers and was to obtain a better understanding as to why veterans who suffer from PTSD, depression, or substance abuse do not seek counsel for their trauma due to the stigmas surrounding it and the personal beliefs of the sampled veterans. The study’s primary aim was to collect data from said veterans to identify the concerns around stigma in the workplace and from loved ones versus the actual beliefs of the veterans that surround mental health illness and treatment. A secondary aim was to compare the beliefs of veterans diagnosed with some form of a mental health problem alongside those with a sane mind. The final aim of the study was to provide a correlation between the beliefs around mental health along with its treatments and the actual follow through and use of the care (Vogt, Fox, & Di Leone, 2014). Vogt, Fox, & Di Leone (2014) met an important goal being that of understanding that the belief of an individual veteran and the stigma they hold within themselves is a far more important barrier to overcome than that of military culture, society, or loved ones. According to the researchers this study will need to be conducted with a more longitudinal time-frame along with more participants. The use of "neutral" or unsure responses was simply too great and not enough data could collected to certify their hypotheses (p. 312-313). The authors mention two psychological concepts within the source's study which include "barriers to care" and

"incorporated negative beliefs" among veterans, their workplace, and loved ones directed toward mental health problems, treatments, and the stigmas surrounding the whole. These concepts were used by the authors as a foundation for the study allowing them to direct and control their efforts to obtain objective data solely pertaining to their hypotheses (Vogt, Fox, & Di Leone, 2014).

This study conforms to APA Ethics Code 8.02 "Informed Consent to Research" because of its process of obtaining information through a survey system. The importance of ensuring the participants had enough information in order to give consent remained at the forefront for the researchers and was demonstrated through the consistent sending of the assessment packages along with reminders in the mail over an 11 week span in efforts to gain credibility and receive maximum participation (Vogt, Fox, & Di Leone, 2014, p. 308). This study does contain what may be assumed as an offering of inducement which is the $20 gift card, however that is disregarded due to the gift card being rewarded regardless of participation. The source also does not contain any information regarding the participants which is implied to be in compliance of the ethical guideline pertaining to confidentiality and privacy.

The second source, "Help-Seeking Stigma and Mental Health Treatment Seeking Among Young Adult Veterans," is the first study of its kind which includes literature that assesses the relationship between the public and perceived public stigmas. This study primarily focuses on the study of 812 young adult veterans between ages 18-35 and also varied with demographic factors to include ethnicity, gender, and symptom severity. The goal of the researchers within this study was to open a door in which has not yet been opened to better understand and comprehend the stigmas that surround mental health and the variety of ways to seek help. The purpose of this study is to correct the misperceptions many persons hold today surrounding these stigmas and to develop solutions so that the veterans that so desperately need help yet are afraid of the judgement will be able to happily, humbly, and safely obtain the assistance they so desire (Kulesza, Pedersen, Corrigan, & Marshall, 2015). The study was conducted using a large online cross-sectional survey brought about information untouched in the field as of yet. In the research of Kulesza, Pedersen, Corrigan, & Marshall (2015) they were able to understand that it is the veterans themselves which alter and halt the use of mental health services as it is noted that 88% of veterans admit they would not look down upon a fellow veteran seeking assistance. Despite the great efforts by the individuals of this study it still remains difficult to obtain absolute certainty using these surveys due to certain shortcomings which include misrepresentation along with concerns about safety and confidentiality. Nonetheless the confident findings will lead to solutions to correcting misperceptions such as targeting individual veterans who unbiased and using interventions to assist in deletion of the surrounding stigmas. This source identifies two theories or frameworks which include the "Attribution Theory (AT)" and the "Modified labeling theory (MLT)". AT is consisted of the population of people who discriminate against veterans with mental health problems saying they are dangerous and to blame for their mental state - this is also referenced as the public stigma. MLT accounts for those that aware of such judgement and discrimination that in turn decide to avoid to the situation in its entirety - this is also referenced as the perceived public stigma (Kulesza, Pedersen, Corrigan, & Marshall, 2015).

This study conforms to APA Ethics Code 8.02 "Informed Consent to Research" because of its process of utilizing Facebook to gain consent for the participants of the survey. This study also conforms to APA ethics code 8.06 "Offering Inducements for Research Participation" because of its rewarding of a $20 gift cards to all who make the decision of moving forward with the process. To enter the process of consent and so forth one looks upon the advertisement or "offering of inducement" of a $20 gift card upon given consent of confirmation of participation. The researchers gained initial consent from the participant using Facebook, however the study does not reveal any participants personal information (Kulesza, Pedersen, Corrigan, & Marshall, 2015). The offering of the $20 gift card to each participant is implied to be within Standard 8.06 although some may argue the offering seeks more participation, the amount is not excessive in nature and does not offset the yield.

References

Kulesza, M., Pedersen, E. R., Corrigan, P. W., & Marshall, G. N. (2015). Help-seeking stigma and mental health treatment seeking among young adult veterans. Military Behavioral

Health, 3(4), 230–239. doi:10.1080/21635781.2015.1055866

Vogt, D., Fox, A. B., & Di Leone, B. A. L. (2014). Mental health beliefs and their relationship with treatment seeking among U.S. OEF/OIF veterans. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 27,

307–313. doi: 10.1002/jts.21919