Photo By Ana Allen | Regional Health Command Pacific (RHC-P), Psychological Health Regional Director, Dr....... read more read more
HONOLULU (Sept. 20, 2017) --- For service members, veterans and family members, the stress from decades of war can add a burden on the mind, pulling at the balance between mental strength and fatigue in a way other citizens may not experience.
Behavioral health professionals from Regional Health Command-Pacific, known as RHC-P, and the Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System, known as VAPIHCS, partnered together to share best practices, emerging treatments, research topics and approaches to care to help military families and veterans on their journey towards lifelong resilience.
The exchange, attended by mental health professionals from across the region, occurred during the RHC-P and VAPIHCS co-hosted sixth annual Pacific Regional Behavioral Health Summit, Sept. 7-8 at Tripler Army Medical Center’s Kyser Auditorium and highlighted the importance of partnership with the theme, “Excellence through Unity: Exploring the Confluence of Arts and Science in Providing Evidence Based Care.”
RHC-P Chief of Staff, Col. Laura Trinkle provided opening remarks. “This summit is a shining example of unity, demonstrating the partnership we share delivering quality healthcare between Army Medicine, our friends at the VA, the behavioral health professionals in our communities and other trusted advocates. We are all here today, on an island in the middle of the Pacific working toward a common goal. Yet the collective improvements gained here will impact the way we deliver world-class medical care not just to our ohana on Oahu – but throughout the entire region,” said Trinkle.
Years of research, conducted by behavioral health professionals, has changed the dialogue surrounding behavioral health, with events like the Pacific Regional Behavioral Health Summit helping to drive progress forward through innovative, cutting-edge care and information exchange and in reducing stigma.
As VAPICHS director, Jennifer Gutowski addressed attendees, she emphasized the impact mental professionals make by attending the summit. “As we work together sharing resources – more of our troops, Veterans and families are getting the support they need -- it's important to know you all are going to be creating a ripple effect throughout our society. Because when people see the bravest, most heroic people in our country speaking up about their mental health challenges and getting treatment, that sends a real message. It shows people that getting help is a sign of strength, and it helps erase the stigma that sometimes surround these issues. And that could be literally helpful to hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of people in this country who will finally get the mental health care they need and deserve,” said Gutowski.
From an active-duty stand point and an enterprise perspective, Army Medicine has vastly expanded and transformed behavioral healthcare, reaching Soldiers and families where they live and work, providing open access to care. “We now screen soldiers for mental health problems before and after they are sent to theaters of war. Our behavioral health specialists are able to uncover and treat problems while service members are still in uniform, rather than letting problems fester for years, as was the case with many veterans of prior wars. And we’re seeing results, with behavioral health conditions being managed earlier, before crises occur,” said Trinkle.
While incredible progress has been gained, there is still opportunity for advancements as service members shift from active-duty status to veteran. “Behavioral health care is a continuum with proper hand-off of care vital for successful treatment. This unity of effort between Army Medicine and the VA is another tool we use that can only improve our outcomes,” said Trinkle.
Gutowski, echoed the comment, emphasizing the importance Department of Defense partnerships, such as with RHC-P and VAPICHS, hold in pursuing healing that endures from the moment a service member first dons a uniform to the moment they take it off. “At VAPIHCS we partner with Tripler Army Medical Center and together, we have The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Recovery Rehabilitation Program, or PRRP, an in-patient program which provides intensive residential rehabilitation to Veterans suffering from war related stress. The program is intended as a complement to the acute care currently provided to Veterans at Tripler and long term Outpatient care provided by VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics, Vet Centers, clergy, and private providers,” she said.
According to Gutowski, PRRP is an 8-9-week structured program for Veterans, active duty, reserve, and OIF/OEF Soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Treatment includes comprehensive evaluation, development and practice of new coping skills, integration of traumatic war-related memories, and a variety of educational experiences and group activities.
Registered attendees also received Continuing Medical Education credits or Continuing Education Units by participating in panels and discussions.
Beneficiaries are reminded that the military crisis line offers confidential help for Service Members and their Family and friends at 1-800-273-8255, Press 1; visit www.MilitaryCrisisLine.net; or text to : 838255.
| Date Taken: | 09.07.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 09.20.2017 21:42 |
| Story ID: | 249036 |
| Location: | HONOLULU, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 87 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Interagency partnerships may ease active-duty, veteran mental healthcare transition, by Ana Allen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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