The Military Service Identification Tool - Main Report

Abstract: This research used an electronic health record (EHR) Case Register to explore the utility and feasibility of identifying veterans who accessed secondary mental health care services within the UK. The identification of veterans was validated by contacting patients classified as veterans/civilians and confirming their status via self-reported surveys. In addition, the report compared the sociodemographic profiles and the types of mental health diagnoses among veterans who engage in secondary mental health care services compared to their matched civilian counterparts. Analyses indicated that SLaM veterans were significantly more likely to live alone and to be single than Combat Stress veterans. Combat Stress veterans were significantly more likely to live with their partner/children and to be in a relationship than SLaM veterans. Combat Stress veterans were significantly more likely to be of British ethnicity than SLaM veterans. SLaM veterans were significantly more likely to be given a drug disorder diagnosis, whereas Combat Stress veterans were significantly more likely to be given a depressive, anxiety, stress or alcohol disorder diagnosis.