Since July 2007 the Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) organisation has reported on the psychiatric morbidity of the UK armed forces. The annual summary report for 2007 has recently been published, and this includes the breakdown of new attendances in 2007 including both in and out-patient mental health facilities by age group. This information is provided in the table.
Age Total armed forces strength Number of patients assessed with a mental disorder Percentage of total strength Number of patients assessed with a mental disorder Percentage of total strength <20 16,000 6 0.04 384 2.39 20-24 45,500 77 0.17 1,102 2.42 25-29 41,700 65 0.16 807 1.94 30-34 29,500 34 0.12 520 1.76 35-39 34,300 38 0.11 554 1.61 40-44 18,100 15 0.08 242 1.34 45-49 9,500 6 0.06 107 1.13 50+ 5,300 7 0.13 49 0.92
The figures record all new attendances (i.e. people who have not attended previously) at MOD Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMHs) and in-patient facilities and therefore does not include those whose course of treatment at that facility started prior to January 2007.
Data for 2008 are currently being validated.