Willingness to seek mental health treatment : an interpretative phenomenological analysis of female military service members' experiences following a self-perceived mental health concern

Background: Women comprise a growing proportion of the United States Armed Forces; yet, their unique experiences related to seeking mental health treatment have largely gone unexplored in the literature. While women experience higher rates of mental health disorders and seek treatment more frequently, they have conveyed unique concerns related to their decisions to utilize mental health treatment. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the shared, lived experience of female activity duty service members' willingness to seek mental health treatment and the factors that influenced their willingness, in the military mental health care system, following a self-perceived mental health concern. Methods: I conducted in-depth, open-ended interviews with seven, purposively sampled individuals ranging in age from 22 to 50 years old for a total of 14 interviews. Each participant reported she had served on active duty since 2008 and had experienced a self-perceived, mental health concern during that time. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Military Stigma Scale, and two separate interviews. All interviews were transcribed and then analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis with a social constructivism framework. Results: Three main themes were identified as contributing to the willingness to utilize mental health treatment: organizational factors, other individuals' experiences, and personal experiences. Within each theme, participants expanded upon the influence of the messages received at differing levels, as well as the interactions with others regarding mental health treatment. These themes emphasized the influence of the social context in which these decisions are made. Discussion: Overall, female service members perceive that the military has made positive changes, which provide greater opportunity and support for treating mental health concerns. However, if service members continue to not seek services, we must work to understand what is continuing to prevent those actions and encourage treatment seeking behaviors. In our sample of service women, concerns about career repercussions and pervasive negative views of women were especially salient barriers. Continuing to ask service members what factors influence their decision to seek treatment, finding ways to improve perceptions of female service members, and increasing the transparency of the mental health treatment process and impacts could further increase rates of treatment seeking