One in eight members of Armed Forces found to be reporting mental health issues

One in eight members of the Armed Forces have been seen for a mental health reason in the last year, the latest figures have shown.

The report by the Ministry of Defence also shows female personnel sought help more than their male counterparts.

Military GPs saw 12.3% of the members of the Armed Forces for a mental health-related issue over the 2024/25 period.

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However, this figure has come down in the last couple of years – with over 13% seeking help in 2022/23.

A fall in the number of people in their 20s reporting issues is being seen as the reason behind it.

But it is personnel aged between 30 and 49 that have accessed assistance more than any other age group in the forces.

The report also says women were more likely to look for support than men – something that's largely in line with the entire UK population.

Those from white and mixed ethnic backgrounds are also shown to be at a greater risk of mental health problems, while only 4.1% of Asian members of the military reported an issue.

A larger percentage of personnel below officer rank also sought assistance (13.8%) compared to 10% of officers across the Armed Forces.

The RAF accounted for the highest rate of members seeking help (14.3%), with the Royal Navy also reporting a similar proportion (14.1%) of its personnel flagging issues.

But the figures show a fall in personnel being referred to specialist mental health services in the last year, with 2,887 people seeking such treatment compared to 3,082 the year before.