Veterans Who Are Younger, Female and LGBTQ Are Reporting More Mental Health Issues, Study Finds

Veterans who are female, LGBTQ and served after 9/11 are more likely to have experienced recent serious psychological distress compared to other veteran groups, according to a report released this week.

But while younger veterans are more likely to experience that distress, they’re also more inclined to proactively seek out mental health services and drug or alcohol abuse treatment, according to the report.

These post 9/11 vets are part of a generation that is more racially and ethnically diverse than prior groups of vets.

“The demographics of the active-duty force and veterans has been changing,” said study co-author Megan Schuler, a researcher at the Rand Corp. think tank, in a phone interview with Military.com.

“It’s become more racially diverse, and there’s been increasing numbers of women and growing appreciation of LGBT folks serving. And these subpopulations, just like in the general U.S. population, have different health and socioeconomic needs.”

Almost 7% of veterans met the study’s criteria for recent psychological distress. Female veterans sought mental health treatment at more than two times the rate of male veterans, 31.3% to 12.3%, the study found.

The study didn’t examine reasons why younger veterans were more likely to seek help, but millennials and Gen Z are less likely than other generations to stigmatize mental health needs and have helped drive mental health awareness. . . . (read more on Military.com)

The article on Military.com has this as the featured photo:

The caption reads: A poster is on display during the LGBTQ+ Informational Expo inside the Roberts Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Facility at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, June 25, 2021. Keesler celebrated Pride Month throughout June, with events such as a scavenger hunt, guest speaker and discussion panel.