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. 2024 Dec 20;31(12):2-11.

Diagnoses of mental health disorders among active component U.S. Armed Forces, 2019-2023

Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division  1
Affiliations

Diagnoses of mental health disorders among active component U.S. Armed Forces, 2019-2023

Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division. MSMR. .

Abstract

Mental health disorders have historically accounted for significant morbidity, health care provision, disability, and attrition from military service. From 2019 through 2023, a total of 541,672 active component service members of the U.S. Armed Forces were diagnosed with at least 1 mental health disorder. Crude annual incidence rates of at least 1 mental health disorder decreased from 2019 to 2020, but then increased continually from 2021 until 2023. Most incident mental health disorder diagnoses during the study period were attributable to adjustment disorders, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, 'other' mental health disorders, and alcohol-related disorders. Efforts to assist and treat service members should continue to promote help-seeking behavior to improve their psychological and emotional well-being and reduce the burden of mental health disorders, especially as rates have been increasing since the COVID-19 pandemic. Annual incidence rates for service members diagnosed with at least 1 mental health disorder increased from 2021 through 2023, coincident with the COVID-19 pandemic. Incidence rates for anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder increased substantially from 2019 to 2023, nearly doubling during that period.

Keywords: mental health; disorder; adjustment; anxiety; depressive; depression; post-traumatic stress; PTSD; bed days; hospitalization; treatment; armred forces; military; active; United States; Military Health System; MHS; COVID; COVID-19; coronavirus; coronavirus disease 2019.

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Figures

Figure 1a
Figure 1a. Annual Incidence Rates, Leading 5 Mental Health Disorder Diagnoses Among Male Active Component Service Members, U.S. Armed Forces, 2019–2023
Figure 1b
Figure 1b. Annual Incidence Ratesa, Mental Health Diagnoses Following the Leading 5 Disorders, Male Active Component Service Members, U.S. Armed Forces, 2019–2023
Figure 2a
Figure 2a. Annual Incidence Rates, Leading 5 Mental Health Disorder Diagnoses Among Female Active Component Service Members, U.S. Armed Forces, 2019–2024
Figure 2b
Figure 2b. Annual Incidence Ratesa, Mental Health Diagnoses Following the Leading 5 Disorders, Female Active Component Service Members, U.S. Armed Forces, 2019–2023
Figure 3
Figure 3. Incidence Rates of Mental Health Disorder Diagnoses, by Category and Age Group, Active Component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2019–2023
Figure 4
Figure 4. Incidence Rates of Mental Health Disorder Diagnoses, by Category and Service, Active Component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2019–2023
Figure 5
Figure 5. Incidence Rates of Mental Health Disorder Diagnoses, by Category and Military Occupation, Active Component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2019–2023
Figure 6
Figure 6. Incidence Rates of Mental Health Disorder Diagnoses, by Time in Service, Active Component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2019–2023
Figure 3 Supplement
Figure 3 Supplement. Incidence Rates of Mental Health Disorder Diagnoses, by Age Group and Diagnostic Category, Active Component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2019–2023
Figure 4 Supplement
Figure 4 Supplement. Incidence Rates of Mental Health Disorder Diagnoses, by Service and Diagnostic Category, Active Component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2019–2023
Figure 5 Supplement
Figure 5 Supplement. Incidence Rates of Mental Health Disorder Diagnoses, by Military Occupation and Diagnostic Category, Active Component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2019–2023
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