Barriers to Mental Health Treatment for Military Wives

Objective: An Internet-based survey sought information about barriers to mental health services for military wives. Methods: On the basis of qualitative work, an Internetbased program was created to identify military wives who may have major depressive disorder. Results: Women (N=569, ages 18 to 56) were recruited from 45 states and eight foreign countries.Most participants (78%) reported mild to severe depression. Many (44%) reported unaddressed mental health needs. Barriers included inability to attend daytime appointments (38%), inability to find a counselor who understands the needs of military spouses (35%), inability to find a counselor the participant could trust (29%), concerns about confidentiality (26%), and lack of knowledge about where to get services (25%). The barriers reported differed markedly from those described by distressed women in the general population. Conclusions: Military wives are an underserved population. Knowledge of military culture is essential for civilian mental health providers working with military wives.