lOMoARcPSD|61746433
Mental Health Issues in the Armed Forces
HPE 1005 - Mental Health Issues
University of Cincinnati
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
For ages, there has been an association between stigma and help-
seeking within the armed forces. This stigma is decidedly prevalent in
not only the armed forces but also the criminal justice system, which
has no policies of dealing with prisoners suffering from mental
illnesses (Slate, Buffington-Vollum & Johnson, 2013). Within the
armed forces, recent quantitative reviews bring out factors
contributing to this association (Sharp et al., 2015). While scholars
often ignore the contribution of qualitative literature to this area,
germane research often reveals an understanding of complicated social
constructs associated with the stigmatization of seeking help during
mental illness. The use of qualitative literature ensures the synthesis of
findings with other studies, thereby, forming a divergent perspective
regarding the evidence of barriers related to stigma and the facilitators
of seeking mental health. Within the armed forces, mental health is a
pressing issue. The depression rate among veterans stands at 31
percent, a figure five times higher than that encompassing the entire
population of the U.S. (Eisenzimmer, 2012).
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
Predominantly, five themes are responsible for the stigma of seeking
mental health within the armed forces. These factors include
individual health beliefs, an inability to discuss the matter with
relevant individuals openly, career concerns, personal and anticipated
stigma experience, and the influencing factors of the stigma. As such,
many veterans are returning home from combat having been
discharged from service. However, they face serious challenges,
especially in assimilating back to society. Many are suffering from
PTSD and depression, leading to suicidal ideation, homelessness, and
substance abuse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the barriers and
stigmas associated with why veterans are not seeking treatment for
mental health.
Inasmuch as there are various research findings concerning the
immense psychological needs of individuals serving in the armed
forces, few of this personnel use mental health services despite
showing symptoms of mental problems. Fundamental to such
occurrences is the perpetuation of stigma-related barriers to degrees
higher than other barriers such as practical and logistical ones.
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
Commonly defined, stigma relates to and encompasses various
elements that cumulatively define a deeply discrediting attribute that
reduces the value of an individual from a whole and usual one to a
tainted and discounted one (Coleman et al., 2017). Close research
indicates that there are various types of stigma, which are thought to
integrate thus creating impediments to the process of seeking help
while mentally ill. Within the armed forces, however, stigma has had
linkages with desirable attributes of behavior such as self-sufficiency,
toughness, and the ability to maintain combat readiness at all times.
Within the armed forces, a perpetuation of public stigma stems from
concerns regarding preferential treatment from leaders within a unit,
which may lead to condensation and ill performance within a unit
resulting in a loss of confidence (Iversen et al., 2011). Research shows
that such concerns are rampant within the armed forces of the US,
Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Public stigma within
the armed forces often endorses leadership and organizational
experiences. Within disciplined forces, it is common to find a
relationship between high ratings of unit togetherness and cohesion
going hand in hand with lower levels of stigma. Contrariwise,
negative connotations and behavior causing embarrassments among
members of a unit often lead to the stigma which is related to mental
health. As a result of public stigma, internalization may occur, which
presents itself as an understanding of societal dissociation leading to
difficulties and impairments in self-efficacy and self-esteem and
glaring feelings of demoralization and shame (Coleman et al., 2017).
On the other hand, aside from internalized and public stigma,
structural discrimination can bring about stigma and the resultant
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
barriers to seeking mental health. Structural discrimination within the
armed forces often manifests through disadvantaging a set of
individuals through rules and regulations, in this case, personnel
suffering from mental health issues. A good example here is the belief
that individuals with mental health illnesses do not have a healthy
career option since they may be unaware of how and where to find
help and not having the needed resources to access this help. As such,
systematic review findings also concur with this example since it
highlights the military as a subgroup disproportionately deterred by
stigma in regards to the impact of mental health-related stigma and the
choice of seeking help across populations. While there are prevalent
and consistent representations of public stigma within the armed
forces, studies show that are little to no correlations between public
stigma and subsequent use of mental health services or the inclination
to seek help. For this discourse, there are numerous reasons such as
the implementation of divergent measures of stigma examination; the
use of poor quality examination methodologies; and the fact that
among individuals suffering from public stigma, few disclose their use
of mental health services or may not be aware of their conditions.
The most prevalent stigma-related barrier to seeking mental health
services among the armed forces is non-disclosure. This theme alludes
to the link that represents a number of behaviors, which reduce or
delay the motivation to seek help. Non-disclosure is often
characterized by phrases such as “sucking it up” or “carrying on”
among others and is often attuned to the militaristic culture of self-
sufficiency and solving problems individually. In many cases, military
officers are unable to recognize their problem, which leads to non-
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
disclosure. Such denial often stems from a lack of paying attention to
symptoms that require urgent review and the analysis of other co-
morbid somatic symptoms. Until a “crisis point,” victims experiencing
non-disclosure rarely divulge their experiences and ignore difficulties
relating to their illnesses coupled with the public stigma associated
with it. Often, within the units of the armed forces, leadership
determines the reaction of team members when one has a mental
illness diagnosis. As such, depending on the leader’s perception and
attitude towards mental health, victims can choose to either keep silent
or disclose their mental struggles.
Individual beliefs concerning mental health are also stigma-related
barriers. This theme often alludes to common internalized stigma,
whereby, self-detrimental mantras such as “I am a danger to others” or
“I am insufficient” are the order of the day. Such individuals are often
susceptible to seeking treatments and favors; consequently, deterring
them from the real problem, which is mental health and the seeking of
help to mitigate its occurrence. In terms of gender, some studies
illustrate the susceptibility of women compared to men in having
internalized stigma. In addition to individual beliefs, experiences of
stigma are also a barrier to the seeking of help regarding mental health
within the armed forces. Personal experiences and fears regarding
seeking assistance in relation to stigma experiences are decidedly
rampant. Primarily, experiences such as lack of understanding by
peers and loss of respect from them lead to feelings of guilt, blame,
and shame, which resultantly deters victims from seeking further help.
The final barrier is career concerns. Often, this theme on career
concerns often leads victims to worry about how treatment will
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
influence career advancement. Moreover, the possibility of discharge
often affects victims immensely. Fundamentally, health difficulties
often point to a lack of confidence not only among peers but also the
superiors. Studies reveal that while a member of a unit is absent,
confidentiality often reduces tremendously. In addition, high-ranked
officers often feared the questioning of their leadership prowess in
light of disclosed mental health difficulties (Coleman et al., 2017). On
the other hand, low-ranked officers often express the possibility of
non-deployment and an inability to advance in terms of a professional
career. Due to such dynamics within the military, as well as strict
policies and regulations such as restrictive duties to those deemed
severely mentally ill, various barriers to seeking proper mental health
within the armed forces persist.
References
Coleman, S., Stevelink, S., Hatch, S., Denny, J., & Greenberg, N.
(2017). Stigma-related barriers and facilitators to help seeking for
mental health issues in the armed forces: a systematic review and
thematic synthesis of qualitative literature.C Psychological Medicine,C
47 (11), 1880-1892. doi: 10.1017/s0033291717000356
Eisenzimmer, R. (2012). Code 51: Keeping Suicidal Veterans Safe in
the Emergency Department.C Journal of Psychosocial Nursing ,C 50
(12), 30-35.
Iversen, A., van Staden, L., Hughes, J., Greenberg, N., Hotopf, M., &
Rona, R. et al. (2011). The stigma of mental health problems and other
barriers to care in the UK Armed Forces.C BMC Health Services
Research,C 11 (1). doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-11-31
lOMoARcPSD|61746433
Sharp, M., Fear, N., Rona, R., Wessely, S., Greenberg, N., Jones, N.,
& Goodwin, L. (2015). Stigma as a Barrier to Seeking Health Care
Among Military Personnel With Mental Health Problems.C
Epidemiologic Reviews,C 37 (1), 144-162. doi:
10.1093/epirev/mxu012
Slate, R., Buffington-Vollum, J., & Johnson, W. (2013).C The
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