INTRODUCTION
STRESS AND THE FORCE
TREATMENT CHALLENGES DOWN RANGE AND IN GARRISON UPON RETURN
BEST TREATMENT PRACTICES
ISSUES SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES FACE UPON RETURN
TO CONSERVE FIGHTING STRENGTH
KEVIN R. STEVENSON, LMSW-C, BCD
LTC, MS
CHIEF, SOCIAL WORK SERVICE
UNCLASSIFIED
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To discuss the treatment challenges of Providers
“Down Range” and in “Garrison”. Discuss best
Treatment practices. Identify issues Soldiers and their families face during deployment and upon return.
THERE IS A COST TO CARE
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TO CONSERVE FIGHTING STRENGTH

• INTRODUCTION
• PURPOSE
• OUTLINE
• TREATMENT CHALLENGES “DOWN RANGE” AND IN “GARRISION”
• ISSUES SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES FACE UPON RETURN
• PERSONAL CHALLENGES
• SUMMARY
• CONCLUSION
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TO CONSERVE FIGHTING STRENGTH

• UNIT ACCEPTANCE (ARE YOU VIEWED AS A “FORCE MULITPLIER”)
• PROFESSIONAL ROLE CONFLICT AND JOINT SERVICE OPERATIONS
• TRAINING IN “BEST PRACTICE TECHNIQUES”
- BRIEF PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHOTHERAPY
- CBT
- EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING (EMDR)
- PROLONGED EXPOSURE THERAPY
- COGNITIVE PROCESSING THERAPY (CPT)
- ANGER MANAGEMENT GROUP THERAPY
• DOD DIRECTIVE 6490.1, “MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS OF MEMBERS
OF THE ARMED FORCES,” SEPTEMBER 14, 1993
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TO CONSERVE FIGHTING STRENGTH

• BALANCING THE NEEDS OF THE SOLDIER AND MILITARY MISSION
• RELATIONSHIP AND BOUNDARIES
• CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY
• CONFLICTS WITH COMMANDERS
• CLINICIAN BURN-OUT AND SELF-CARE
• TEAMWORK, POPULATION SERVED, AND PRIDE IN SERVING COUNTRY
• BALANCING FAMILY AND MILITARY OBLIGATION “ MULITPLE DEPLOYMENTS”
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TO CONSERVE FIGHTING STRENGTH

 UNDERSTANDING THE MILITARY CULTURE
 UNIQUE TREATMENT CONCERNS OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN SOLDIERS
 PRIORITZING THE ASSESMENT
 FOCUSING ON THE PRESENTING PROBLEM
•
BEST THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT METHODS
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TO CONSERVE FIGHTING STRENGTH

 FLEXIBLE HOURS (EVENING CLINIC)
 SERVICES AND BENEFITS (CHILD AND ADOLESCENT TREATMENT)
 RESOURCES (CHILD CARE)
 NETWORK AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH…
- VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER
- VETERAN AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTERS
- LOCAL HOSPITALS AND CLINICS
- VET CENTERS
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TO CONSERVE FIGHTING STRENGTH

• MEDICAL
• PSYCHOLOGICAL
• FAMILY AND MARITAL
• TRANSITIONAL
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TO CONSERVE FIGHTING STRENGTH

• TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI)
• AMPUTEES
• MUSCLE AND SKELETAL INJURIES
• CHRONIC PAIN
• MEDS VS NO MEDS
• INABILITY TO EXERCISE AND FUNCTION
• LOSS OF LIBIDO
• MOOD SWINGS
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• POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)
• MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER
• SUBSTANCE ABUSE
• ANXIETY DISORDER
• SEXUAL TRAUMA
• COMORBID DIAGNOSES
• OTHER ADDICTIONS
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TO CONSERVE FIGHTING STRENGTH

• There have been 88 reported active-duty suicides in the Army during calendar year 2009. Of these, 54 have been confirmed, and 34 are pending determination of manner of death. For the same period in 2008, there were 67 confirmed suicides among active-duty soldiers.
• During June 2009, among reserve component soldiers not on active duty, there were no confirmed suicides and two potential suicides; to date, among that same group, there have been 16 confirmed suicides and 23 potential suicides currently under investigation to determine the manner of death. For the same period in 2008, there were 29 confirmed suicides among reserve soldiers not on active duty.
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OEF/OIF SUICIDES
ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY FORCES
Marines, active-duty forces, deployed, 2003: 2
Army, active-duty forces, deployed, 2003: 25
Marines, active-duty forces, deployed, 2004: 7
Army, active-duty forces, deployed, 2004: 11
Marines, active-duty forces, deployed, 2005: 4
Marines, active-duty forces, deployed, 2006: 4
Army, active-duty forces, deployed, 2005-2006: 120
Marines, active-duty forces, deployed, 2007: 6
Army, active-duty forces, deployed, 2007: 115
Army, active-duty forces, deployed, January-August 2008: 62
Army, active-duty forces, deployed, through August 2008 (suspected): 31
Army, active-duty forces, between deployments, 2002-2008: ???
Army, active-duty forces, suicide attempts, 2002: 350
Army, active-duty forces, suicide attempts, 2007: 2.100
[5 per day]
VETERANS
Marines, active-duty, prior deployed, 2003: 6
Marines, active-duty, prior deployed, 2004: 10
Marines, active-duty, prior deployed, 2005: 8
Marines, active-duty, prior deployed, 2006: 5
Marines, active-duty, prior deployed, 2007: 12
Veterans, separated from service, under VA care, 2002-2005: 141
Veterans, separated from service, under VA care, 2006: 113
Veterans, separated from service, not under VA care, 2002-2008: ???
[*at least 139 ]
OEF/OIF SUICIDE TOTALS : Active-duty military forces: 356 [+another 31 suspected]
Veterans: 295 [+another 139 not officially counted by DoD or VA]
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• COMMUNICATION
• AVOIDANCE AND ISOLATION
• ANGER AND RESENTMENT
• UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
• RETURNING TO COMBAT ZONE
• FEELINGS OF BEING …
- MISUNDERSTOOD
- A FAILURE
- EXCLUDED
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TO CONSERVE FIGHTING STRENGTH

: By Rod Powers, About.com
Filed In: Family & Domestic & Divorce Separation Dec 15 2008
The military divorce rate continues to climb slightly over previous years, according to Department of Defense statistics.
The overall divorce rate for military personnel during fiscal year 2008 was 3.4 percent, compared to 3.3 percent in 2007 and 2006.
Among the DOD services for FY 2008:
Army.
Enlisted divorce rate was 3.9 percent. Officer divorce rate was 2.3 percent. Overall divorce rate was 3.5 percent.
Air Force.
Enlisted divorce rate was 4.1 percent. Officer divorce rate was 1.6 percent. Overall divorce rate was 3.5 percent.
Navy.
Enlisted divorce rate was 3 percent. Officer divorce rate was 1.5 percent. Overall divorce rate was 3 percent.
Marine Corps.
Enlisted divorce rate was 4.1 percent. Officer divorce rate was 1.6 percent. Overall divorce rate was 3.5 percent.
The general population divorce rate in the United States, for the 12 months proceeding Feb 2008 was 3.6 percent, according to the most recent National Vital Statistics Report , prepared by the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention.
Historically, female service members get divorced at a rate of more than double of military men:
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MILITARY DIVORCE RATE BY GENDER
Service 2006 Male Divorce Rate 2006 Female Divorce Rate
Army 2,5% 7.9%
Air Force 2.6% 6.2%
Navy 2.9% 6.9%
Marine Corps 2.9% 7.1%
Service 2007 Male Divorce Rate 2007 Female Divorce Rate
Army 2.6% 8.1%
Air Force 2.9% 6.5%
Navy 2.8% 6.5%
Marine Corps 3.0% 8.1%
Service 2008 Male Divorce Rate 2008 Female Divorce Rate
Army 3.0% 8.5%
Air Force 2.9% 6.5%
Navy 2.5% 6.3%
Marine Corps 3.2% 9.1%
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• COPING WITH LIFE OUTSIDE THE ARMY
• LOW SELF ESTEEM
• UNEMPLOYMENT
• FINANCES
• FORECLOSURES
• HOMELESSNESS
• CHILD CARE
• COLLEGE
• NEW CAREER CHOICES
TO CONSERVE FIGHTING STRENGTH THERE IS A COST TO CARE
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• ACCEPTANCE
• AVOIDANCE AND ISOLATION
• DEPRESSION AND PTSD
• SUICIDAL THOUGHTS
• IRRITABLE AND ANGRY
• SHOULDER, BACK , AND KNEE PAIN
• TREATMENT
• MEDICATION
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TO CONSERVE FIGHTING STRENGTH

• TREATMENT CHALLENGES “DOWN RANGE” AND IN “GARRISION”
• ISSUES SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES FACE UPON RETURN
• PERSONAL CHALLENGES
TO CONSERVE FIGHTING STRENGTH THERE IS A COST TO CARE
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TO CONSERVE FIGHTING STRENGTH THERE IS A COST TO CARE
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Our goal has to be a clear focus to provide the best care to our Soldiers and their family members. It is just as important to ensure we focus on provider resilience. There is still a real stigma related to seeking mental health service. If the stigma is not reduce our Soldiers face a never ending battle for years to come. Lets make the difference and reshape the future of returning Soldiers and their families.
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