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Traumatology
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A Preliminary Investigation of Mental Health Needs and Barriers to Mental Health Care for Female Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan

Gina P. Owens

Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, gowens4{at}utk.edu

Catherine J. Herrera

Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Allison A. Whitesell

Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Fifty female veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan completed an Internet survey related to their mental health needs, service utilization, and barriers to seeking mental health care within the Veterans Administration (VA) system. Veterans completed several self-report measures including the PTSD Checklist—Military, Center for Epidemiologic Scales—Depression, and Hopkins Symptom Checklist—21. The most frequently reported concerns for which participants indicated they needed counseling were depression, relationship issues, anxiety, and anger management. Although 78% of respondents reported that they felt they needed treatment in the past year, 42% of these individuals indicated that they did not seek counseling. Two commonly reported barriers to seeking mental health services in the VA were long waiting periods for appointments and prior bad experiences. Mental health concerns and symptoms of returning female veterans indicate the need for treatment, but a significant gap remains in the self-reported need for assistance and seeking of services.

Key Words: female veterans • mental health • Iraq • Afghanistan • barriers to access • posttraumatic stress disorder

Traumatology, Vol. 15, No. 2, 31-37 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1534765609336361
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