Examining Help-Seeking Among National Guard Service Members

AbstractLow rates of help-seeking among military service members (SMs) remains a persistent problem. Data from 997 National Guard (NG) SMs were examined to assess predictors of help-seeking behavior. Suicidal ideation, age, negative stress, positive stress, depression, and negative beliefs about mental health treatment were consistently found to predict help-seeking. A past history of suicidal ideation was the strongest predictor of receiving treatment. Negative beliefs about mental health treatment had the greatest impact on decreasing the odds of receiving treatment. Results have implications for improving service utilization for NG SMs.