Increasing understanding of the barriers to military sexual trauma-related reporting and treatment seeking in Canada

LAY SUMMARY Military sexual trauma (MST) can cause many mental health problems, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Yet many people who experienced MST do not report what happened to them, do not seek mental health treatment, or drop out of treatment. Through experiences in an MST-specific community of practice, the authors heard many reasons why people do not report or do not seek treatment, including 1) feeling betrayed by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and other military members, 2) not understanding what treatments are available, and 3) not knowing exactly what MST means. Knowing why people do not report MST or seek mental health treatment can help the CAF and treatment providers make changes to support people who experienced MST. As of 2019, 57% of military sexual trauma (MST) incidents among Canadian Armed Forces Regular Force members went unreported. There is reason to believe many military members and Veterans affected by MST forgo, delay, or drop out of MST-related care. To support those affected by MST, barriers to reporting MST and obtaining MST-related mental health treatment must be understood. Understanding these barriers can provide clarity and direction for military organizations and treatment providers on how to best support those affected by MST, as well as help them obtain needed services.