93 4 DISCLOSURE IN THE MILITARY - A QUALITATIVE STUDY Conclusions The results showed that the disclosure process is complex, and suggest that discrimination and stigma are considerable barriers to disclosure and subsequent wellbeing and sustainable employment. To enhance health, wellbeing and sustainable employability, it is of crucial importance that stigma is eliminated. Focus should be on interventions that create a more supportive workplace environment for soldiers with MHC/SA. For example, by improving supervisor-worker relationships and by creating more knowledge and awareness about MHC/SA in general (not just PTSD), to increase mental health literacy, as this makes disclosure easier. This is especially important at the level of the supervisor, as they play such a crucial role in the disclosure decision. Furthermore, soldiers showed fear of career consequences and social rejection. High agreement across different perspectives implies that disclosure actually does pose a risk for career and social relations. Future research should focus on interventions that assist soldiers in disclosure decisions, in order to stop these adverse outcomes from occurring (39, 43). MMH-professionals could play an important role by discussing disclosure as part of treatment, but they should first be made more aware through training about certain workplace cultures influencing disclosure. Additionally, military policy could be revised concerning the negative career consequences of MHC/SA. Together, these findings can be used to create a safer environment for soldiers, and other high-risk occupations, to disclose MHC/SA, providing supervisors with opportunity to support their employees, leading to improved health, wellbeing, and sustainable employment.
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