Center for Healthy Minds

Veterans, particularly combat veterans, experience high rates of mental health disorders such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse disorders. Lack of access and low utilization of mental health treatment is a known contributor to poor health outcomes among veterans and civilians alike.

This study, conducted in part at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System – Seattle Division, assesses veterans’ engagement with mental health treatment using a large-scale, national survey conducted between 2012 and 2013.  This research aims to evaluate the degree to which efforts made by the Department of Veterans Affairs and other veteran organizations may have impacted mental health treatment engagement for recent veterans as well as for underrepresented racial and ethnic minority veterans.