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    Behavioral health: Helping soldiers stay in the fight

    A psychiatrist speaks with a patient in Afghanistan

    Photo By Cmdr. Jesse Ehrenfeld | Lt. Cmdr. Mahmoud Ahmed, a Navy psychiatrist, speaks with a patient at the NATO Role...... read more read more

    KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN

    01.31.2015

    Story by Lt.Cmdr. Jesse Ehrenfeld 

    NATO Role III Multinational Medical Unit

    KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Whether the first deployment or the fifth, the impact of deployment related stressors can take a toll. The primary responsibility of the Behavioral Health Department at the NATO Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit on Kandahar Airfield is to mitigate and treat the stressors that arise in a forward deployed environment.

    As the overall mission has changed, and combat operations have ended, the behavioral health assets have adjusted to meet the needs of service members in Afghanistan. Currently, the behavioral health team at the NATO Role 3, one of the most forward operating behavioral health teams in Afghanistan, consists of a Navy psychiatrist, an Army social worker, an Army clinical psychologist, and an Army behavioral health technician. A joint enterprise between Navy Medicine and the Army’s Combat Operational Stress Control Unit, these clinicians work together as a unified team to provide the best care possible. “The medical providers at NATO Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit on Kandahar Airfield are dedicated to supporting our deployed soldiers, and it’s an honor to work alongside such talented clinicians and to be afforded the opportunity to provide behavioral health care to our servicemembers who are deployed” commented Captain Ashley Davis, an Army psychologist.

    One way the behavioral health team helps deployed servicemembers manage stress is through their work to educate individuals on how to handle stress and develop positive coping mechanisms. Psycho-educational classes are routinely offered which cover topics such as sleep hygiene, effective communication skills, anger management, and improving interpersonal skills. “The impact of sleep on a person’s mood cannot be overstated” commented Captain Davis. “It is so important for deployed personnel to make sure they are rested and able to engage when needed.”

    One program offered at the Role 3 is called “Caring for the Caregivers.” The purpose of the program is to teach deployed healthcare workers how to take care of one another and themselves. Many times providers often get focused on taking care of everyone except themselves, tending to put aside their own mental health needs. This innovative program is a way for all caregivers to get support and have a safe place to process own their experiences. The overall goal is to enable these important caregivers to remain at the top of their game, so they can function flawlessly when taking care of their own patients.

    Lt. Cmdr. Mahmoud Ahmed, a psychiatrist from Eau Claire Wisconsin, provides oversight and direction to the Behavioral Health Department. By facilitating consultations and assessments, he enables commands to determine if patients are able to receive care in-theater or, when necessary, be transferred to a CONUS facility for further management. “My job is to assess whether a servicemember is able to benefit from a brief intervention here, or whether they need more intense therapy elsewhere” remarked Lt. Cmdr. Ahmed. “Ultimately, our Department’s goal is to ensure all servicemembers are able to function at their peak.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 01.31.2015
    Date Posted: 01.31.2015 06:48
    Story ID: 153224
    Location: KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF
    Hometown: EAU CLAIRE, WI, US
    Hometown: FORT CAMPBELL, KY, US
    Hometown: FORT LIBERTY, NC, US

    Web Views: 249
    Downloads: 1

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