TY  - JOUR
AU  - Piro, Lauren
AU  - Luo, Huabin
AU  - Jones, Katherine
AU  - Lazorick, Suzanne
AU  - Cummings, Doyle M.
AU  - Saeed, Sy Atezaz
PY  - 2023
TI  - Racial and Ethnic Differences Among Active-Duty Service Members in Use of Mental Health Care and Perceived Mental Health Stigma: Results From the 2018 Health Related Behaviors Survey
T2  - Preventing Chronic Disease
JO  - Prev Chronic Dis
SP  - E85
VL  - 20
CY  - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
N2  - INTRODUCTION  The prevalence of mental health disorders is rising among US service members; however, research is limited on their use of mental health care. The objective of our study was to determine whether racial and ethnic disparities exist in the use of mental health care and perceived mental health stigma among active-duty service members. METHODS  We obtained data from a sample of 17,166 active-duty service members who participated in the 2018 Department of Defense Health Related Behavior Survey (HRBS). Racial and ethnic groups included Black, Hispanic, White, and other. Yes-no questions about use of mental health care and perceived mental health stigma were our outcome variables. We used multiple logistic regression to assess racial and ethnic differences in mental health care use and perceived mental health stigma by service members. Significance was set at P <.05. RESULTS  In 2018, approximately 25.5% of service members self-reported using mental health services, and 34.2% self-reported perceived mental health stigma. Hispanic service members (AOR = 0.78) and service members in the "other" racial and ethnic group (AOR = 0.81) were less likely than their White counterparts to have used mental health care. Black (AOR = 0.68) and Hispanic (AOR = 0.86) service members were less likely than their White counterparts to self-report perceived mental health stigma. CONCLUSION  The 2018 HRBS showed racial and ethnic differences in mental health care use and perceived stigma among US active-duty service members. Perceived stigma was a barrier to use of mental health care among service members with a mental health condition. Culture-sensitive programs customized for different racial and ethnic groups are needed to promote mental health care and reduce perceptions of stigma associated with its use.
SN  - 1545-1151
UR  - https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd20.220419
DO  - 10.5888/pcd20.220419
ER  -