How Does Military Service Impact Mental Health? A UK Veteran Study

What you need to know

• Male veterans show higher rates of common mental disorders, PTSD, and alcohol misuse compared to men who never served
• Employment appears protective against mental health issues for both veterans and non-veterans
• Veterans who deployed to combat roles have significantly higher rates of PTSD

The Transition from Military to Civilian Life

Imagine leaving behind not just a job, but an entire way of life - complete with its own culture, structure, and support system. This is the reality for military veterans transitioning to civilian life. While many make this transition successfully, some face significant mental health challenges along the way.

The Study’s Key Findings

This research compared the mental health of UK military veterans to people who had never served, examining rates of common mental disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and alcohol misuse. The findings revealed some important differences:

Male veterans were more likely than civilian men to experience:

• Common mental disorders (23% vs 16%)
• PTSD (8% vs 5%)
• Alcohol misuse (11% vs 6%)

Interestingly, these differences were not found among women veterans compared to civilian women.

The Impact of Employment

Having a job appears to make a big difference for both veterans and civilians. Both groups showed lower rates of mental health issues when employed compared to those who were not working. However, there was an important difference when it came to alcohol use - while civilian employment was associated with less drinking, employed veterans showed similar rates of alcohol misuse to unemployed veterans.

Combat Experience and Mental Health

The study found that veterans who had been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, particularly in combat roles, showed higher rates of PTSD compared to those who hadn’t deployed. However, deployment didn’t seem to affect rates of common mental disorders or alcohol misuse - these were elevated in male veterans regardless of whether they had deployed.

What This Means for You

If you’re a veteran or know someone who is, these findings highlight several important points:

• The transition to civilian life may require additional mental health support, particularly for male veterans
• Employment can be protective for mental health, but veterans may need additional support for alcohol-related issues even when employed
• Combat veterans may benefit from specific support for PTSD
• Family members and healthcare providers should be aware that male veterans may be at higher risk for mental health challenges

Conclusions

• Male veterans face higher rates of mental health challenges compared to civilian men
• Having a job helps protect mental health, but may not reduce drinking among veterans
• Combat experience specifically increases risk of PTSD