Mental Health Services Use Trends in Canadian Veterans: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study in Ontario
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Authors
Mahar, Alyson L.
Aiken, Alice B.
Cramm, Heidi
Whitehead, Marlo
Groome, Patti
Kurdyak, Paul
Date
2018
Type
journal article
Language
en
Keyword
Veteran , Veteran Health , Military Personnel , Health Services , Mental Disorders
Alternative Title
Abstract
Objective: A substantial evidence base in the peer-reviewed literature exists investigating mental illness in the military, but
relatively less is documented about mental illness in veterans. This study uses provincial, administrative data to study the use of mental health services by Canadian veterans in Ontario. Method: This was a retrospective cohort study of Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police veterans who were released between 1990 and 2013 and resided in Ontario. Mental health–related primary care physician, psychiatrist, emergency department (ED) visits, and psychiatric hospitalisations were counted. Repeated measures were presented in 5-year intervals, stratified by age at release.
Results: The cohort included 23,818 veterans. In the first 5 years following entry into the health care system, 28.9% of
veterans had 1 mental health–related primary care physician visit, 5.8% visited a psychiatrist at least once, and 2.4% received acute mental health services at an ED. The use of mental health services was consistent over time. Almost 8% of veterans aged 30 to 39 years saw a psychiatrist in the first 5 years after release, compared to 3.5% of veterans aged 50 years at release. The youngest veterans at release (<30 years) were the most frequent users of ED services for a mental health–related reason (5.1% had at least 1 ED visit). Conclusion: Understanding how veterans use the health care system for mental health problems is an important step to ensuring needs are met during the transition to civilian life.