Mental Health and Suicidality in Separating U.S. Reserve and National Guard Personnel

Abstract

Objective: We examined the association of U.S. Reserve Component (RC) personnel separating from military service with the risk of mental health problems at three time periods.

Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with a nationally representative sample of 1,582 RC personnel at baseline and three follow-up waves from 2010 to 2013. Multivariate logistic regression analyses examined posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), binge drinking, suicide ideation, and mental health diagnosis by a health provider.

Results: Approximately 10%, 20%, and 28% of RC personnel reported separating from military service at waves 2-4. At an estimated 6 months since leaving military service, there were no differences between those who left and those who remained in service. However, at 1 year after leaving service, those who had left had a higher risk of MDD, suicidal ideation, and reporting having mental health diagnosis by a health provider. At 1.6 years after leaving military service, those who had left had a higher risk of reporting having mental health diagnosis by a health provider. The results were essentially unchanged after adjusting for baseline mental disorder for each outcome.

Conclusion: Results suggest a higher risk of mental health problems in RC veterans separating, compared to those who remained in the military. This risk may not occur immediately following separation but may occur within the first year or two after separation. Transition from military to civilian life may be a critical period for interventions to address the unique needs of the RC's citizen-soldiers and reduce their risk of adverse mental health outcomes.

Figure 1.

Prevalence of Mental Health Problems by Transition Status Note. * p < .05 ** p < .01 *** p < .001 At waves 2 to 4, the prevalence of participants who had left the military was 10.1% (n = 131), 19.6% (n = 206), and 28.3% (n = 294), respectively. Rao-Scott Chi-square statistics were conducted to compare mental health problems by transition status. Average time since leaving the military was estimated as 6 months for wave 2 (midpoint of baseline and wave 2), 1.0 and 1.6 years for waves 3 and 4, respectively, which were based on the weighted average years since they first reported transitioned out of military service..

Figure 1.

Prevalence of Mental Health Problems by Transition Status Note. * p < .05 ** p < .01 *** p < .001 At waves 2 to 4, the prevalence of participants who had left the military was 10.1% (n = 131), 19.6% (n = 206), and 28.3% (n = 294), respectively. Rao-Scott Chi-square statistics were conducted to compare mental health problems by transition status. Average time since leaving the military was estimated as 6 months for wave 2 (midpoint of baseline and wave 2), 1.0 and 1.6 years for waves 3 and 4, respectively, which were based on the weighted average years since they first reported transitioned out of military service..