Photo By Staff Sgt. Victor Everhart | Lt. Col. Tamara McClendon (left), the U.S. Army Central G1 division chief of plans,...... read more read more
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SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. - U.S. Army Central hosted a convention among its Soldiers, incorporating the Team Shaw community, here Jan. 11 about troubling topics in the military, such as suicide prevention and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The convention discussed methods and techniques to observe and help in all situations, noting that engaged leaders who know their troops have a better chance at recognizing troubling behavior and getting troops and families the help they need.
“Just as important as Soldiers are the families of our troops,” said Maj. Hyeonjoong Kim, U.S. Army Central battalion plans and training chaplain. “Ensuring that leaders and family members are tracking signs and symptoms of all the topics covered today just makes the Army team that much stronger.”
Psychologists assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw were the guest speakers for the convention and brought up-to-date information on the before stated topics.
A misconception that constant combat over the past 15 years was a reason for increasing suicides, but the facts reveal that 85 percent of military suicides have not seen combat, and 52 percent have never deployed. A statistic that surprises most, but also tells leaders that taking care of Soldiers at home is just as important as in combat zones.
The Army Suicide Prevention Program's mission is to improve readiness through the development and enhancement of policies designed to minimize suicide behavior; thereby preserving mission effectiveness through individual readiness for Soldiers and their families.
When the topic of PTSD was brought up, it was stated that combat brings the possibility of losing close friends, bodily harm, exposure to terrifying events and extended separation from loved ones. As many as 30 percent of service members redeploying from Iraq and Afghanistan can experience stress reactions associated with these situations.
“The biggest reason we see a lot of cases go untreated is because of the negative undertones that come with seeking mental or behavioral help,” said Dr. Elizabeth Traham, a clinical psychologist assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing. “A lot of the patients I see say they didn’t want to come or they didn’t want anyone to think a certain way about them. But the truth in the matter is there is nothing wrong with getting help or asking someone if they need assistance. As a military, that’s what we do; we assist those who need it, and we don’t look down on you at all. We’re here to get you or your family the help that you need and return you to the force to help others.”
While service members may experience stress reactions resulting from a combat deployment, they are not necessarily an indication of PTSD. Common symptoms associated with both combat stress and PTSD, like nightmares, increased anxiety and reliving the event could result in a diagnosis of PTSD if there is no noticeable improvement during a short-term period.
PTSD is a psychiatric condition that requires long-term treatment to deal with symptoms. Many service members who experience PTSD can benefit from treatment and support, but some fear that they may be considered weak or that peers might lose confidence in their abilities. This is due, in part, to the perception that some service members have about seeking help, as well as the myths surrounding PTSD. Knowing the truth about PTSD can make a real difference in the lives of those who need support.
“Honestly, I’m more concerned if you go through something extremely traumatic and you don’t have some type of reaction, it’s normal to have a few issues after coming home from rough combat deployments,” said Traham. “So if you know someone who has concerns or if you start to notice behavioral differences with someone then pull (him) to the side and talk to (him) about the programs in place to help, and there are some programs that (he doesn’t) need an appointment and can remain unnamed, like chaplain services.”
There are many ways to get help, some of which are confidential. Depending on the situation there is always a way to get the help a Soldier needs, whether it be going to friends and family about the issue or informing one’s command of concern, no Soldier should feel alone.
| Date Taken: | 01.20.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 01.20.2016 17:30 |
| Story ID: | 186657 |
| Location: | SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 228 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, USARCENT educates Soldiers on troubling topics, by SSG Victor Everhart, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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