Severity profiles of depression, anxiety, and stress among non-commissioned officers in the Ghana armed forces: a cross-sectional study at Burma camp.

backgroundMental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and stress are increasingly prevalent worldwide, posing major challenges to individual well-being and occupational performance. In Ghana’s military setting, evidence suggests rising mental health concerns; however, limited studies have examined their prevalence and correlates among different demographic groups. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of depression, anxiety, and stress among Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) at Burma Camp, Accra.

methodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 184 NCOs in the Ghana Armed Forces, selected through a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Descriptive statistics were used to estimate prevalence, while the Wilcoxon Rank-Sum test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Dunn’s pairwise comparisons examined associations between demographic and occupational factors. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

resultsWe found that 55.9% of participants reported symptoms of anxiety, 52.1% reported symptoms of depression, and 33.1% reported symptoms of stress. Severity levels varied, with a higher proportion experiencing moderate to severe symptoms. Anxiety was significantly associated with age (p = 0.030), with mean scores higher among the 26–35 age group compared to the 20–25 group (− 1.89 units; p = 0.029) and the 36 + group (+ 2.15 units; p = 0.016). Marital status was associated with depression (p = 0.014), with married service members reporting more symptoms, while deployment on peacekeeping missions was associated with higher stress levels (p = 0.021).

conclusionsPsychological distress was prevalent among NCOs, particularly anxiety and depression. Age, marital status, and deployment experience significantly influenced these conditions. We recommend educating NCOs on self-coping strategies and implementation of targeted interventions and support systems to address the specific needs of different demographic groups within the military population by the health promotion arm of GAF, ultimately promoting their mental well-being and resilience. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.