Abstract
BackgroundThis study aimed to examine currently serving United Kingdom (UK) military Medical and Welfare Officers views on the potential introduction of post-deployment screening for mental ill health.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 Medical and Welfare Officers. Interview transcripts were analysed using data-driven thematic analysis.ResultsFour themes were identified: positive views of screening; reliability of responses; impact on workload; and suggestions for implementation. Interviewees viewed the introduction of screening post-deployment as likely to increase awareness of mental health problems whilst also reporting that service personnel were likely to conceal their true mental health status by providing misleading responses to any screening tool. Concern over reliability of responses may provide one explanation for the reluctance of service personnel to seek help for problems, as they could feel they will not be taken seriously. Welfare Officers felt they would not have the knowledge or experience to respond to help-seeking. Although participants were concerned about potential impact on their personal workload, they indicated a desire to positively engage with the screening programme if research showed it was an effective tool to improve mental health care.ConclusionsWelfare and healthcare providers are well disposed towards a screening programme for mental health but highlight a few concerns in its implementation. In particular Welfare Officers appear to require more training in how to respond to mental ill health. Concerns about available funding and resources to respond to increased workload will need to be addressed should post-deployment screening for mental health be introduced in the UK military.
Highlights
This study aimed to examine currently serving United Kingdom (UK) military Medical and Welfare Officers views on the potential introduction of post-deployment screening for mental ill health
As it has been shown that symptoms of mental ill health may not be displayed or experienced until later on after returning from deployment [11], the screening tool was developed to contain a 3–6 month follow up component which picked up additional cases of mental ill health not identified by the earlier screen [12]
Participants perceived some advantages in that screening would raise the profile of mental health in the UK Armed Forces
Summary
This study aimed to examine currently serving United Kingdom (UK) military Medical and Welfare Officers views on the potential introduction of post-deployment screening for mental ill health. A number of Armed Forces personnel experience mental ill health, with symptoms ranging from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to alcohol abuse [1,2]. Other military forces already use screening for mental ill health post-deployment, notably the United States (US) Department of Defense (DOD) [8,9]. This was introduced shortly after troops first deployed to Iraq in 2003 and has evolved since. As it has been shown that symptoms of mental ill health may not be displayed or experienced until later on after returning from deployment [11], the screening tool was developed to contain a 3–6 month follow up component which picked up additional cases of mental ill health not identified by the earlier screen [12]
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