PSYCHIATRIC STIGMA IN THE MILITARY

There is potential for the stigma of mental health care to directly af fect an active duty member's career. The authors are aware of cases in which fear of adverse career consequences has led service members to avoid needed mental health care. In order to investigate the legitimac y of this fear, the authors surveyed 252 USN and USMC commanding and e xecutive officers concerning their attitudes about service members who had received mental health and other services; 138 responded. Overall the responses were neutral and there were relatively few negative eva luations of service members who had received services. Military health care providers should take an active role in diminishing the stigma o f mental illness, and in allaying fears of adverse career consequences for seeking care.