TARIN KOT, Afghanistan - The Australian Defence Force (ADF) provides psychological support services for ADF personnel deployed throughout the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) with teams of health professionals attached to the Force Support Unit (FSU).
Wartime operations are challenging and are associated with a myriad of circumstances potentially capable of fostering psychological stress.
Crowded or austere living conditions, long work days, a harsh climate, pervasive sand, confinement to a base, with little opportunity for normal recreation outlets, and separation from loved ones are some of the possible stressors.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) provides psychological support services for ADF personnel deployed throughout the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) with teams of health professionals attached to the Force Support Unit (FSU).
Capt. Jackie Levick, a psychologist, and Sgt. Nadine Tyrrell, a senior psychological examiner, are the psychological support team currently deployed to Multi National Base –Tarin Kot.
They will spend the first half of their four month deployment in Afghanistan before being replaced by the other half of their team which is based at the Al Minhad Airbase in the United Arab Emirates.
Capt. Levick said because of the extended work days over a long period with little rest there was not a lot of time for personnel to switch-off during operations.
“Sgt. Tyrrell and myself are available if a member identifies they need psychological support or medical referrals from the doctor and for administration referrals by a member’s chain of command,” she said.
“Although deployed to Tarin Kot, we also run clinical and group sessions in Kabul and Kandahar if required and we are conducting relaxation and sleep classes.
“We can provide ongoing counseling and conduct special screenings for groups who are identified as being at high risk for frequent exposure to traumatic events during their deployment.
“These high risk groups include, but are not limited to, combat engineers, medical staff, unmanned aerial vehicle pilots, the detainee management team, and drivers.”
Corps transfer screenings and interviews with personnel posting to special forces units are also conducted at MNB-TK, while all Return to Australia Psychological Screens (RtAPS) are now conducted at the Al Minhad Airbase.
Capt. Levick said sleep issues and fatigue management were normal concerns for deployed troops and the main symptoms presented to the team at Tarin Kot were common reactions.
“Most people are seeking clarification they are going OK and what they are experiencing is normal,” she said.
“We tell them it’s OK to feel sad if you have lost a loved one, it’s OK to miss home and it’s OK to be stressed from the operational work tempo.
“Deployed troops don’t have weekends, or get to go home to relax and unwind, so being constantly alert and hyper-vigilant in this environment can take a toll on a person’s ability to cope with stress.”
“We can assist by providing additional coping techniques because the usual ways of dealing with stressors, such as hanging out with friends or playing sport, isn’t an option here.
Sgt. Tyrrell is on her third deployment to Tarin Kot and said she was the first point of call to manage bookings, appointments and triage which also involved liaison with the different units.
“People are given opportunities to see us if they have experienced a traumatic event during their deployment and seek support for their initial reactions,” she said.
“This is followed-up during their RtAPS and then three to six months later by their Post Operational Psychological Screen (POPS).
“There are measures in place for people to self-refer when they get home if they identify they are not reintegrating into their usual lives as they expected.
“Personnel are often concerned that seeking help will impact their career, yet this is rarely the case and sometimes it is the opposite.
‘Seeking additional support is a part of being resilient.”
After deploying veterans and their families can also seek support from counselling services which will be free of charge for the rest of their life.
Veterans support services include the ADF All Hours Support Line and the Veterans and Veterans Families Counseling Service (VVCS) which provides counseling and group programs to Australian veterans, peacekeepers and their families.
To contact the ADF All Hours Support Line call: 1800 628 036
For more information on VVCS visit: http://australia.gov.au/service/veterans-and-veterans-families-counselling-services or call 1800 011 046
| Date Taken: | 07.11.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 07.23.2013 09:07 |
| Story ID: | 110636 |
| Location: | TARIN KOWT, AF |
| Web Views: | 250 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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