Half of service member hospital stays are mental health related: 6 notes

Becker's Healthcare January 7, 2025
Mariah Taylor

Nearly 55% of hospital bed stays for active-duty service members between 2019 and 2023 were for mental health disorders — more than every other affliction combined — according to a December Department of Defense Medical Surveillance Monthly Report.

“As service members continue to experience increased rates of mental health disorders after the COVID-19 pandemic, help-seeking behaviors to address psychological as well as emotional well-being should be prioritized to maintain force readiness,” the report said.

The report was based on data from the Defense Medical Surveillance System and Theater Medical Data Store, as well as ambulance encounters and hospitalization or outpatient visits to a psychiatric facility.

Here are five things to know:

1. From 2019 to 2023, 541,672 active-duty...

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