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Impact of Military Sexual Trauma
Military sexual trauma (MST) can affect survivors in numerous ways, leading to complex therapeutic needs. The information below highlights the impacts of MST on physical health, mental health, and social/family dynamics, helping you understand the comprehensive effects of MST on individuals.
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MST survivors may experience persistent physical symptoms and life-long chronic health conditions
Many symptoms are misdiagnosed or overlooked by health care providers.
The following are considerations to address as part of your mental health treatment of MST survivors8
Mental Health
Survivors of military sexual trauma face profoundly elevated risks for mental health conditions and co‑occurring disorders.
Male MST survivors have a 19% rate of attempting suicide while female MST survivors have a 9% rate of attempting suicide. This is higher than the general population.
The following are effective ways you can address the mental health symptoms associated with MST:
Social/Family
MST survivors often experience strained relationships and social isolation due to feelings of betrayal, shame, and fear of rejection.
Group therapy is particularly effective and can be an extremely rewarding experience for MST survivors and providers alike.
Due to the nature of MST and its impact on social relationships, the following links are here for you to consider in addition to individual therapy:
"People who have experienced MST have voiced that they instantly become black sheep.
It's very difficult for them to feel isolated and ostracized. They're no longer part of that unit community anymore.
There's immediate isolation of that soldier, and they need somebody to depend on and rely on."
MST Provider
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