Military mental health management and deployment stress challenges

Military Organization

MANAGING the FIRE WITHOUT and WITHIN Military Organization Problems

The physical and mental welfare of men and women in the military is a fundamental concern in its management. That welfare necessarily requires sufficient funding for these soldiers, and provision for adequate diagnostic equipment and treatment of known and unknown physical and mental health problems. These health problems include operational stress, medically unexplained physical symptoms of certain disorders, suicides and the lack of an effective tool to measure family readiness in confronting deployment stress.

This paper seeks to determine the causes and solutions to the problems encountered by the management of military organizations in funding, medically unexplained physical symptoms of disorders in trench warfare, incidence of suicide and the psychological effects of routine military deployments on soldiers and their families.

The author writes about a comprehensive health assessment method used on South

African soldiers before deployment. The test includes a social work assessment. It determines the readiness of the soldiers by measuring the resilience of the family system in coping with stress resulting from deployment. The Military Social Health Index or MSHI is composed of four scales, which measure social support, problem-solving, stressor appraisal and general resistance resources. Findings reflected that the MSHI was a more reliable and valid measuring tool than earlier ones on all the surveyed South African culture groups.

Wilson, a.H. (2005). VA Health Care Crisis. DAV Magazine: Disabled American

Veterans. Retrieved on September 16, 2008 at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_nOLFT/is_5_47/ai_n27865274?tag-content;col1

Veteran Affairs officials admitted the existence of a critical funding shortage in the veterans' health care system. They attributed the problem, first, to flaws in the system itself. This was discovered during a mid-year review of the department budget when it was thought that no additional funds were needed. But the shortage was revealed when VA network and hospital directors drew money from operating reserves. This delayed maintenance and the purchase of medical equipment in lieu of patient care payments.

In response, supplemental appropriations of $975 million were provided to supplant the need. And in anticipation of further need, the Senate again unanimously approved an additional $1.5 billion as part of the amendment to fiscal 2006 Homeland Security funds. The consensus is that Congress must fully and promptly finance veterans' health care needs so that they can effectively carry out their all-important function. The needs extend to their care after they come home sick and disabled from active duty.

Mclellan, M (2002). Suicide Prevention is Everyone's Responsibility. U.S. Navy Press Releases: Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs. Retrieved on September 16, 2008 at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_pnav/is_200211/ai_31357664047?tag=content;col1

Mclellan reports that suicide rates are substantially lower in the Navy than among civilians. But suicide ranks as the third cause of death among sailors. Navy leaders called for a proactive stand to prevent suicides as among the basic values of the Navy and the fundamental principle that the "Navy takes care of its own."

According to health officials, most people who experience problems are unable to hide the experience. They show signs that they need help in relationships, anger, social isolation, money problems, work difficulties, preoccupation with death or mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression. Those who contemplate suicide express it through threats or hints about suicide, depression or substance abuse. Most suicides occur when the person is in a free, on leave or unauthorized absence status. The risk increases in times of personal crisis, administrative or legal action. Gathered data showed that suicide is usually preceded by drinking or substance abuse within 12 hours before the incident. It is also often implemented with a personally owned suicide weapon.

Navy and Marine Corps observe a seven-step guideline to prevent suicides. These 7 steps are asking the person, intervening immediately, not keeping it a secret, searching for help, informing the chain of command, finding someone or not leaving the person alone and getting help immediately. Trained professionals, medical emergency care centers, mental health clinics, substance abuse rehabilitation facilities, fleet and family support groups, military chaplains and lay clergy are willing to help prevent suicides.

Engel, C.C., Jr. (2001). Medical Outbreaks of Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms After Military Action, Terrorist Threat or Technological Disaster.

Military Medicine: Association of Military Surgeons of the United States. Retrieved on September 16, 2008 at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn3212/is_200112/ai_n9014857?tag=content;col1

Engel warns that the outbreaks can lead the public to suspect cover-ups, create mistrust between a doctor and the patient, increase the distress and disability involved and waste necessary services. These medically unexplained physical symptoms or MUPS were first confronted after World War I by returning veterans. They referred to debilitating symptoms following months of chemical exposures of trench warfare. They were later described by countless veterans from Vietnam from their exposure to Agent Orange, those exposed to the 1979 nuclear catastrophe at the Three-Mile Island, at the Love Canal in the 1970s and 1980s. The 1992 El A1 jetliner crash in Amsterdam, peacekeeping in Croatia and the Balkan War Syndrome.

The author and a companion recommended a system of evidence-based rehabilitative care for the entire spectrum of MUPS. The system used a randomized multi-center and controlled trial methodology. It provided for pre-event and post-event preventive measures, such as primary care, collaborative primary care and intensive multimodal care. It emphasized the use of automated information systems according to the level of seriousness and disability of a patient's MUPS. It carefully monitored outcomes.

The development and implementation of the sophisticated form of care ensured that MUPS after military or domestic crisis would be efficiently and effective addressed. It would also enhance the credibility of military medicine and other government agencies responding to domestic threats and crises such as MUPS.

Analysis of the Causes

Insufficient or erratic military budget has been traced to politics and guesswork, miscalculations and indifference among lawmakers. The lack of an effective and efficient diagnostic tool has been behind the poor containment of MUPS. Suicide is resorted to often by difficulties in relationships, personal impulsiveness, social isolation, financial distress, anxiety and depression. And little attention to managing stress among military leaders and a lack of an integrated mental health support system to cushion the stressful effect of deployment in soldiers and their families.

Recommendations

Military budget and the appropriations process should be overhauled to insure sufficiency. A proposed system of evidence-based rehabilitative care for MUPS should be promptly utilized. A responsive training program on operational stress should be provided for military leaders. And members of the military who contemplate suicide should be helped by their fellow members, health professionals, military leaders and others in their community.

Conclusion

Problems affecting the physical and mental health of the members of the military beset its management. Causes may be known or unknown but they are not without solutions. These can range from the introduction of appropriate training programs, the application of new tools or procedures, a more realistic budgetary allocation to greater responsiveness and cooperation among members and their support groups.