In 2013, about one in six full-time regular members of the Canadian Forces reported experiencing symptoms in the previous 12 months consistent with at least one of six selected mental or alcohol disorders, according to a Statistics Canada survey.
The six disorders measured by the Canadian Forces Mental Health Survey were a major depressive episode, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence.
A major depressive episode was the most common disorder, with 8% of full-time regular force members meeting the criteria in the 12 months prior to the survey.
“Symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder were reported by 5.3% of full-time regular force members in the 12 months prior to the 2013 survey, while 4.7% reported symptoms consistent with generalized anxiety disorder, and 3.4% reported symptoms consistent with panic disorder,” notes the survey.
In 2013, 4.5% of full-time regular force members surveyed met the criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence in the 12 months prior to the survey. Overall, 2.5% of regular force members reported symptoms consistent with alcohol abuse and 2% with alcohol dependence.
The survey was developed by Statistics Canada in collaboration with the Department of National Defence. About 6,700 full-time regular members of the Canadian Forces and 1,500 reservists took part in the survey.
Information is collected from both full-time regular members of the Canadian Forces regardless of their deployment history, as well as reservists who have been deployed in support of the mission in Afghanistan.
Statistics Canada intends to release additional analysis in November.
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