Women veterans' use and perception of mental health services in rural Oregon

Little is known about rural women veterans and their mental health service needs. Women, who have served in the military, have unique problems related to their service compared to their male colleagues including higher rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Military Sexual Trauma (MST). This qualitative study investigated use of and barriers to receiving mental health care for women veterans in Central Oregon. In-depth interviews were conducted with ten women veterans who have reported experiencing problems with either MST, PTSD, or combat trauma  All ten women had utilized mental health services during active-duty military service, and post service, in VA community based-outpatient clinics. Several recurring themes in the women’s experience were identified. For all of the women interviewed, a sentinel precipitating event led to seeking mental health services. These precipitating events included episodes of chronic sexual harassment and ridicule, traumatic sexual assaults, and difficult combat experiences. Efforts to report mistreatment were unsuccessful or met with punishment. All the women interviewed reported that they would not have sought services without the help of a supportive peer who encouraged seeking care. Barriers to seeking care included feeling like they weren’t really a combat veteran (in spite of serving in a combat unit in Iraq); feeling stigmatized by providers and other military personnel, being treated as crazy; and a lack of interest from those providing care in hearing their stories. This study may generate positive social change by helping providers approach women veterans in a way that is sympathetic to their experiences.