Military Service and Military Health Care Coverage are Associated with Reduced Racial Disparities in Time to Mental Health Treatment Initiation

Adm Policy Ment Health. 2020 Jul;47(4):555-568. doi: 10.1007/s10488-020-01017-2.

Abstract

We aimed to evaluate whether military service and access to veteran heath care coverage attenuates racial/ethnic disparities in time to mental health treatment initiation for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder, and/or alcohol-use disorder. Results are based on 13,528 civilians and 1392 veterans from NESARC-III. Among civilians, racial/ethnic minorities reported longer time to PTSD and depression treatment initiation than non-Hispanic whites. Among veterans, racial/ethnic minorities did not differ from whites in time to PTSD and depression treatment initiation, and showed shorter time to treatment initiation for alcohol-use disorder treatment. Racial/ethnic minorities with past year veteran health care coverage showed the strongest evidence for attenuated disparities.

Keywords: Mental health disparities; Military veterans; Racial/ethnic minorities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Health Services Accessibility*
  • Healthcare Disparities*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Military Health*
  • Military Personnel / psychology*
  • Racism*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / therapy
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States
  • Young Adult