Barriers and facilitators to mental healthcare for women veterans: a scoping review

Godier-McBard, Lauren R.; Wood, Abigail; Kohomange, Manjana; Cable, Graham; Fossey, Matt

doi:10.1080/09638237.2022.2118686

Cited by 11 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Service women may also prefer therapies offered outside of traditional military health care settings, as it has been reported that veteran women find these treatment settings particularly uncomfortable [57,58]. A recent review reported that the most prominent barriers to traditional care among veteran women include feeling uncomfortable or unwanted in male-dominated facilities and a perceived lack of sensitivity to gender-related needs [59]. Thus, they may engage more in and benefit more from interventions offered outside of traditional military health care environments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender Differences in Psychological Outcomes Following Surf versus Hike Therapy among U.S. Service Members

Glassman,

Otis,

Kobayashi Elliott

et al. 2024

IJERPH

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Background: Surf and hike therapies have demonstrated effectiveness as adjunct interventions for service members with major depressive disorder (MDD). This study explores gender differences in intervention outcomes following a pragmatic, randomized controlled trial of Surf and Hike Therapy for service members with MDD (N = 96; men, n = 46; women, n = 50). Methods: Clinician-administered and self-report measures (depression, anxiety, positive affect, negative affect, resilience, and pain) were completed at preprogram, postprogram, and 3-month follow-up; brief measures (depression/anxiety and positive affect) were completed before and after each session. Results: Multilevel modeling results showed that anxiety decreased from pre- to postprogram and significantly differed by gender (B = −2.26, p = 0.029), with women reporting greater reductions. The remaining outcomes from pre- to postprogram demonstrated significant improvements that did not differ by gender (ps = 0.218–0.733). There were no gender differences through follow-up (ps = 0.119–0.780). However, within sessions, women reported greater improvements in depression/anxiety (B = −0.93, p = 0.005) and positive affect (B = 3.73, p = 0.001). The change in positive affect scores within sessions was greater for women in Hike Therapy compared to men (p = 0.016). Conclusions: Overall, results demonstrate that both genders benefit from adjunctive Surf and Hike Therapies, but women exhibit a better response in terms of longer-term anxiety and immediate psychological outcomes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender Differences in Psychological Outcomes Following Surf versus Hike Therapy among U.S. Service Members

Glassman,

Otis,

Kobayashi Elliott

et al. 2024

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…More than 1.7 million US veterans receive mental health care through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) annually [1]. However, US veterans underuse mental health care and often experience barriers that impact access, such as provider scarcity [2], distance to clinic [3], inability to take off from work or school, and dependent care responsibilities [4][5][6]. Veterans living in rural areas make up about 24% of all veterans in the United States [7], and they have similar mental health care needs as urban veterans; however, rural veterans experience access barriers at higher rates [8,9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patient Satisfaction With a Coach-Guided, Technology-Based Mental Health Treatment: Qualitative Interview Study and Theme Analysis

Smith,

Touchett,

Chen

et al. 2024

JMIR Ment Health

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Background Technology-based mental health interventions address barriers rural veterans face in accessing care, including provider scarcity and distance from the hospital or clinic. webSTAIR is a 10-module, web-based treatment based on Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation, designed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder and depression in individuals exposed to trauma. Previous work has demonstrated that webSTAIR is acceptable to participants and effective at reducing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression when delivered synchronously or asynchronously (over 5 or 10 sessions). Objective This study explored factors that lead to greater patient satisfaction with webSTAIR, a web-based, coach-guided intervention. Methods We analyzed qualitative interview data to identify themes related to patient satisfaction with webSTAIR delivered with synchronous video-based coaching. Results Four themes emerged from the data: (1) coaching provides accountability and support, (2) self-pacing offers value that meets individual needs, (3) participants like the comfort and convenience of the web-based format, and (4) technical issues were common but not insurmountable. Conclusions We conclude that participants valued the accountability, flexibility, and convenience of tech-based interventions with video-delivered coaching.

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“…While such barriers are well-researched in the military population, research on how gender may impact barriers is lacking. Given the strong history of masculinity and the continued male-dominant culture of the armed forces, women may face unique barriers to receiving mental healthcare [ 2 , 4 ]. Thus, the current study aimed to explore gender differences in both attitudinal and structural barriers among a sample of UK Armed Forces personnel and veterans with self-reported mental health problems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender differences in structural and attitudinal barriers to mental healthcare in UK Armed Forces personnel and veterans with self-reported mental health problems

Trompeter,

Rafferty,

Dyball

et al. 2023

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol

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Purpose Structural and attitudinal barriers often hinder treatment-seeking for mental health problems among members of the Armed Forces. However, little is known about potential gender differences in structural and attitudinal barriers among members of the UK Armed Forces. The current study aimed to explore how men and women differ in terms of these barriers to care among a sample of UK Armed Forces personnel and veterans with self-reported mental health problems. Methods Currently serving and ex-serving members of the UK Armed Forces who self-reported a mental health problem were invited to participate in a semi-structured phone interview on mental health and treatment-seeking. The final sample included 1448 participants (1229 men and 219 women). All participants reported on their current mental health, public stigma, self-stigma, and barriers to mental healthcare. Results Overall, men and women reported similar levels of both structural and attitudinal barriers, with no significant differences detected. The highest scores for both men and women were observed in attitudinal barriers relating to self-stigma domains, which encapsulate internalised attitudes and beliefs about mental illness and treatment. Conclusions Findings suggest that anti-stigma campaigns can be targeted simultaneously at both men and women within the Armed Forces. In particular, targeting self-stigma may be beneficial for health promotion campaigns.

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Barriers and facilitators to mental healthcare for women veterans: a scoping review

Cited by 11 publications

References 46 publications

Gender Differences in Psychological Outcomes Following Surf versus Hike Therapy among U.S. Service Members

Gender Differences in Psychological Outcomes Following Surf versus Hike Therapy among U.S. Service Members

Patient Satisfaction With a Coach-Guided, Technology-Based Mental Health Treatment: Qualitative Interview Study and Theme Analysis

Gender differences in structural and attitudinal barriers to mental healthcare in UK Armed Forces personnel and veterans with self-reported mental health problems

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