Mental Health Apps and U.S. Military Veterans: Perceived Importance and Utilization of the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder App Portfolio

U.S. veterans have historically experienced more mental health concerns as compared to the general population, yet face a variety of barriers to accessing care. Evidence-based and accessible resources, such as mobile apps, are needed to respond to the unique needs of a diverse veteran population. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA's) National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder has created a one-of-a-kind portfolio of mental health apps to target the needs of veterans and support the self-management of common concerns related to posttraumatic stress disorder. Using data from a nationally representative sample of U.S. veterans, the present study sought to examine how veterans perceived the importance of making each self-management app available to other Veterans; factors impacting veterans' intent to try each app; and actual uptake of each app. Results revealed that while 46.7%-75.0% of veterans reported that the apps are important for veterans, 5.8%-19.2% reported that they would be likely to download the apps, and only 5.0% reported having ever used any of them. Veterans who used any of the apps were more likely to be employed, have served two or more deployments, be married or partnered, use the VA as their primary source of health care, had more medical conditions, and were less likely to identify as Black. With respect to future app use, Black veterans were to 2-5 times more likely than White veterans to indicate a desire to download each of the apps. Other variables that showed consistent associations with increased likelihood of app download included greater smartphone utilization, being married or having a partner, lower household income, and history of mental health treatment. Implications of these results for the broader dissemination of mental health apps and promotion of their uptake are discussed. Impact Statement Mobile apps may help promote the mental health of U.S. veterans. Results of this national study revealed that while 48%-75% of veterans reported that mobile mental health apps developed by the National Center for PTSD are important for veterans, only 6%-19% reported they would likely download the apps and 5% that they ever used them. Identification of factors associated with app use and intent-to-use may help inform dissemination efforts.