Diagnoses of mental health disorders among U.S. active component service members, 2020-2024

Mental health disorders have long been recognized as a problem in a wide range of domains, including the military, resulting in significant impacts on general morbidity, health care provision, disability, and military discharges. From 2020 through 2024, a total of 560,035 U.S. active component service members were diagnosed with at least 1 mental health disorder. Annual incidence rates of mental health disorder increased steadily from 2020 until 2022, but adjustment disorder decreased since then, anxiety gradually increased, and the remaining conditions remained relatively unchanged. Most mental health disorder diagnoses were attributable to adjustment disorders, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol-related disorder, and other mental health disorders. Historically, mental health disorders have often been misunderstood and stigmatized, leading to under-reporting, delayed treatment, and poor prognoses. Reflecting the unique stressors and cultural stigmas of military life, ongoing efforts to raise awareness, encourage help-seeking, and improve treatment options are essential to supporting the mental and emotional well-being of service members. While the incidence of U.S. service members who were diagnosed with at least 1 mental health disorder remained stable from 2023 to 2024, the annual incidence rate of anxiety disorders demonstrated a continual increase from 2020 to 2024.