LAY SUMMARY This analysis of data from a large population-level survey uncovers a pressing issue related to mental health service use among Canadian Armed Forces members. Although many military members seek help for mental health issues, they often do not complete treatment. Data show that more than one-third of those who sought mental health care in the past year discontinued treatment within the same time frame. Alarmingly, only about 25% of these individuals indicated that they completed the recommended course of treatment. Many dropped out because they felt better, did not see results , or were uncomfortable with the treatment. Factors such as education level, marital status, rank, past trauma, and social support influenced this decision. This research is the first of its kind, providing a detailed look into the prevalence of and underlying reasons for discontinuing mental health treatment among Canadian military personnel. It highlights substantial treatment dropout that warrants the need to further explore barriers to and facilitators of treatment retention.
Introduction: Mental health problems are prevalent among Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel. Despite ongoing efforts to promote mental health help seeking, treatment non-completion remains an overlooked issue in military settings. This study sought to provide estimates of past-year mental health treatment discontinuation among active CAF personnel, common reasons for discontinuation, and factors associated with treatment non-completion. Methods: Data from a nationally representative, cross-sectional mental health survey of active CAF Regular Force (RegF; n = 6,696) and Reserve Force (ResF; n = 1,469) personnel were analyzed. Predictors of treatment non-completion were examined using a series of logistic regressions. Results: Among RegF members, 20.8% sought mental health treatment in the past year. Of this sub-group, 38.4% discontinued all forms of treatment within the same year. Notably, only 26.6% of those who discontinued reported doing so because they completed the recommended course of treatment. Similar patterns were found among ResF personnel. Among RegF members, higher education, being married or in a common-law relationship, being a senior non-commissioned member, having a history of childhood maltreatment, and lower social support were associated with an increased likelihood of treatment non-completion. Common reasons for non-completion included feeling better, thinking treatment was not helping, and not being comfortable with the approach. Discussion: This study highlights the complexities of military mental health services provision and offers the first nationally representative analysis of treatment discontinuation in a Canadian military population. Recognizing the reasons for treatment discontinuation may enable future initiatives designed to enhance treatment completion among active military personnel.