A national survey of self-reported mental health of Veterans pursuing post-secondary education in Canada

Abstract

Introduction: The present study details self-reported mental health symptoms among Canadian Veterans pursuing post-secondary education in Canada. Methods: Survey questionnaire data from the 2016 National College Health Assessment (NCHA) were accessed, with a focus on students who indicated they were currently, or had previously been, a member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), Regular Force or Reserve Force (n = 442). Results: Respondents reported high prevalence of psychological symptoms, most notably feeling exhausted (80.5%) and overwhelmed (78.9%). More than 1 in 10 respondents reported seriously considering suicide (13.4%), and 5.9% had attempted suicide in the past 12 months. Furthermore, 8.7% of respondents indicated intentional self-harm (cut, burned, bruised, or otherwise injured themselves) within the past 12 months. Comparatively, Veterans who had been deployed to an area of hazardous duty (n = 107) reported feeling less overwhelmed, exhausted, lonely, and stressed compared with those who had not been deployed for hazardous duty (n = 335). However, suicide attempts within the past year and alcohol use were higher among Veterans who had hazardous duty experience compared with those who had not. Consistent with this fi nding, Veterans with a history of hazardous duty also reported being less happy and less interested in life. Discussion: Th e fi ndings refl ect significant mental health symptoms for Veterans attending Canadian colleges and universities, underscoring the need to provide tailored services to safely integrate Veterans into campus life.