Naval Service Families Mental Health Survey

Abstract: The Naval Families Federation (NFF) conducted a survey to assist the House of Commons Defence Committee (HCDC) with Part 2 of its Mental Health and the Armed Forces Inquiry, which is into the provision of care. The survey was anonymous. It was open from 26 July to 15 August 2018. The timing of the survey period was tied to the HCDC’s inquiry, and it was therefore carried out over part of the main summer leave period, which may have affected response rates. The survey was promoted through the NFF’s social media channels, and was also promoted via the Royal Navy’s social media and internal communications channels. Respondents were a self-selecting sample. It would be reasonable to surmise that many of the respondents chose to participate because they have a particular interest in mental health or experience of accessing support. This supposition is borne out in the qualitative responses which include personal stories and experiences.