Predicting willingness to report behavioral health problems and seek treatment among US male soldiers deployed to Afghanistan: a retrospective evaluation.
This retrospective evaluation explores anonymous survey data to identify predictors of Soldier willingness to report and seek treatment for behavioral health problems during screening mandated by the Department of Defense (DoD). After controlling for stigma and barriers to care concerns, Soldiers with high (+1SD) combat exposure and high (+1SD) levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms were significantly more willing to report these symptoms during DoD-mandated screening. Furthermore, Soldiers who perceived that their unit leaders took action on anonymous Unit Behavioral Health Needs Assessment survey findings were significantly more likely to report a willingness to disclose behavioral health problems and seek treatment for the same. Performance improvement considerations are discussed.