Exploring Mental Help-Seeking Behaviors, Health, and Well-Being in Rural Veterans with Chronic Health Conditions: A National Rural Health Study.

Background/Objective: Veterans in the United States have increased significantly, with a substantial proportion residing in rural areas. This study aims to examine the relationship between help-seeking behaviors and well-being, controlling demographic variables and service-connected disability status. It also explores mental health-seeking behaviors, health outcomes, and overall well-being among rural Veterans with existing health conditions. Methods: Data was collected through surveys distributed across multiple channels, including social media platforms. Results: Results indicated that willingness to seek psychological help was positively associated with the well-being of rural Veterans. Conclusions: These findings underscore the critical importance of both willingness to seek mental health support and access to mental health and substance use care services for rural Veterans.