February 22, 2017

Mental health screening of military personnel

The UK has been considering following in the footsteps of the US and Australia by introducing mental health screening of military personnel after they return from deployment. However, there have been question marks over whether screening works, whether it the best way of helping military personnel and whether it is worth the money.

Researchers have now run a randomised controlled trial of UK military forces returning from Afghanistan. The results, to be published in The Lancet, look at the impact on PTSD, depression and generalised anxiety disorder.

Speakers:

Prof. Sir Simon Wessely, Chair of Psychological Medicine and Vice Dean of King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience and President, Royal College of Psychiatrists

Prof. Roberto Rona, King’s College London, King’s Centre for Military Health Research,

Prof Neil Greenberg, Professor of Defence Mental Health, King’s College London