Mental health referrals to the Falkland Islands British Military Mental Health Team, 1986-96.

Objectives: To examine the pattern of out-patient mental health care referrals for military personnel deployed to the Falklands Islands, 1986-96.
Methods: Data from referral books of British Military Community Mental Health Nurses based in the Falkland Islands were abstracted, entered into an electronic database and analysed.
Results: Over the period 1986-96, 538 Service personnel were referred to the mental health out-patient facility on the Falkland Islands. The majority were male (96%) and junior ranks (81%). Approximately a third of patients were referred for reasons relating to alcohol (31%) and for over two-thirds of patients no follow-up was required (68%). Differences were observed by Service with the Army having more referrals due to alcohol than the other two Services, whilst the Navy had more deliberate self-harm referrals and the RAF more referrals for anxiety.
Conclusions: The lack of information on the total population deployed to the Falkland Islands over this period limits the interpretation of the results.