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15 - Understanding and Reducing the Stigma of Mental Health Problems and of Treatment among Military Personnel

from Part III - Stigma and Mental Health in Specific Contexts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2022

By
Thomas W. Britt  and
Zachary P. Klinefelter
Edited by
David L. Vogel  and
Nathaniel G. Wade
David L. Vogel
Affiliation:
Iowa State University
Nathaniel G. Wade
Affiliation:
Iowa State University
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Summary

The present chapter provides a review and analysis of research on mental health stigma among military personnel. Given expectations of psychological resilience for military personnel, a large amount of research has been conducted to examine the antecedents and consequences of mental health stigma in this population. The chapter first provides an analysis of the different types of mental health stigma that have been examined, including their definitions and assessments. The chapter then addresses the antecedents of mental health stigma in the military, including demographics, mental health symptoms, unit factors, and personality/individual differences. The consequences of mental health stigma are then examined, including treatment- seeking intentions and treatment seeking, mental health symptoms, treatment dropout, and suicidal ideation. Training and interventions to reduce mental health stigma are then discussed. The chapter concludes with recommendations for future research, including a larger focus on unit/organizational factors that influence mental health stigma in the military.

Keywords

military mental health stigmameasurement of mental health stigmamilitary cultureunit support for mental health
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Stigma and Mental Health , pp. 302 - 325
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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