I Kennedy1, D Whybrow2, N Jones3, J Sharpley4, N Greenberg3. 1. Defence Primary Health Care, Ministry of Defence, Lichfield WS14 9PY, UK. 2. School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK, whybrowd@cardiff.ac.uk. 3. Academic Department of Military Mental Health, King's College London, London SE5 9RJ, UK. 4. Defence Primary Healthcare, Ministry of Defence, Portsmouth PO1 3LT, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The UK military runs a comprehensive mental health service ordinarily accessed via primary care referrals. AIMS: To evaluate the feasibility of self-referral to mental health services within a military environment. METHODS: Three pilot sites were identified; one from each service (Royal Navy, Army, Air Force). Socio-demographic information included age, rank, service and career duration. Clinical data included prior contact with general practitioner (GP), provisional diagnosis and assessment outcome. RESULTS: Of the 57 self-referrals, 69% (n = 39) had not previously accessed primary care for their current difficulties. After their mental health assessment, 47 (82%) were found to have a formal mental health problem and 41 (72%) were offered a further mental health clinician appointment. The data compared favourably with a large military mental health department that reported 87% of primary care referrals had a formal mental health condition. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of self-referrals had formal mental health conditions for which they had not previously sought help from primary care; most were offered further clinical input. This supports the view that self-referral may be a useful option to encourage military personnel to seek professional care over and above the usual route of accessing care through their GP.
BACKGROUND: The UK military runs a comprehensive mental health service ordinarily accessed via primary care referrals. AIMS: To evaluate the feasibility of self-referral to mental health services within a military environment. METHODS: Three pilot sites were identified; one from each service (Royal Navy, Army, Air Force). Socio-demographic information included age, rank, service and career duration. Clinical data included prior contact with general practitioner (GP), provisional diagnosis and assessment outcome. RESULTS: Of the 57 self-referrals, 69% (n = 39) had not previously accessed primary care for their current difficulties. After their mental health assessment, 47 (82%) were found to have a formal mental health problem and 41 (72%) were offered a further mental health clinician appointment. The data compared favourably with a large military mental health department that reported 87% of primary care referrals had a formal mental health condition. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of self-referrals had formal mental health conditions for which they had not previously sought help from primary care; most were offered further clinical input. This supports the view that self-referral may be a useful option to encourage military personnel to seek professional care over and above the usual route of accessing care through their GP.
Authors: David Forbes; Susan Fletcher; Andrea Phelps; Darryl Wade; Mark Creamer; Meaghan O'Donnell Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2012-10-12 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Amy C Iversen; Lauren van Staden; Jamie Hacker Hughes; Neil Greenberg; Matthew Hotopf; Roberto J Rona; Graham Thornicroft; Simon Wessely; Nicola T Fear Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2011-02-10 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: June S L Brown; Stephen Lisk; Ben Carter; Sharon A M Stevelink; Ryan Van Lieshout; Daniel Michelson Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-02-28 Impact factor: 3.390