Mental Health in First Responders and Military Personnel: Is Physical Activity A Viable Option?

Abstract

Mental Health (MH) is a growing concern among first responders and military personnel, with a relatively large percentage presenting with disorders. However, many avoid or remove themselves from treatment, which may be related, in part, to treatment stigmas. PURPOSE: Compare physical health (PH) and MH stigmas, and explore whether physical activity is a viable option for treatment. METHODS: The Perceived Stigma and Barriers to Care for Psychological Problems and Self Stigma of Seeking Help questionnaires were provided through an online survey, along with researcher developed questions regarding physical activity behavior. Separate paired-samples t-tests were used to compare PH versus MH treatment stigmas, and descriptive statistics were used to denote interest in physical activity for mental health treatment. RESULTS: First responders and/or military personnel (N= 35; 36.2±11.6 yrs; 80% male) currently residing in the United States completed the survey. When comparing PH and MH, differences (Ps< 0.001) were observed between perceived (PH=1.99; MH=2.56) and self-stigmas (PH=2.17; MH=2.52). The majority (91.4%) of participants indicated interest in using physical activity for MH improvement. Additionally, 29 participants (82.9%) indicated they would be more willing to undergo physical activity as a treatment mechanism for MH than traditional methods (e.g., medication, psychotherapy). CONCLUSIONS: This study expands upon previous stigma literature by emphasizing the discrepancies between physical and mental health stigmas. Additionally, these findings suggest physical activity as a viable option to circumnavigate MH stigmas in first responders and military personnel.