37 2 TREATMENT SEEKING IN THE MILITARY - A QUALITATIVE STUDY Soldier with MHC/SA (male): [Giving example of how supervisors think] ‘There is also an aspect of ethics involved. Sh*t, I know someone used cocaine. Sh*t, I have to confront him. This will result in him losing his job. He has a wife and kids. There will be consequences. I don’t want to see it. I don’t see it.’ 5. Practical barriers All groups indicated practical barriers for treatment seeking. First, there is knowledge that help is available, but soldiers do not know who or where to go to for this help. Soldier without MHC/SA (male): Focus group leader: ‘Would you know where to find help? Soldier: ‘Actually, no I would not.’ Additionally, they mentioned that there is often a lack of time for treatment because of being understaffed and having a busy schedule. Soldier without MHC/SA (male): [We would tell colleagues with MHC/SA] ‘You should not overreact, you just have to come with us [on training], because we need you. Shake it off and keep going.’ Facilitators 1. Social support to encourage treatment seeking Social support to encourage treatment seeking was mentioned by all groups as a facilitator. Four sources of social support were mentioned to be important: family, peers, supervisors and MH professionals. Soldier with MHC/SA (male): ‘My family was the reason for me [to seek help]. I was afraid to be judged at work, or miss a career opportunity. For me support did not come from work, but from my family.’ MH professional (female): ‘Colleagues advise each other to go to a MH professional. Patients tell others ‘you should really go to a MH professional, I have also been, and it really helped me’. MH professional (female): ‘When a higher-ranking [soldier] shows subordinates that the health care
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