thedrifter
01-17-04, 07:00 AM
Submitted by: MCRD Parris Island
Story Identification Number: 200411610466
Story by Lance Cpl. Brian Kester
MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C.(Jan. 16, 2003) -- A recruit sits in his chair, not stiff and ready for anything, but totally relaxed amid an air of tranquil thoughts-that is his mission. He is doing exactly as he has been taught, to follow orders to a tee. It starts from his head and leads to his toes -- a process of tensing and then relaxing the muscles to reduce stress. He is led on this journey by a member of the Mental Health Unit.
The MHU staff counsels recruits and permanent personnel with personal problems, as well as educates medical personnel and administrates therapy to anyone who is overstressed.
"On a busy day we see eight to 12 recruits and about three permanent personnel," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Traviell A. Hartsfield, leading petty officer for the Mental Health Unit.
For each of the people they see, the department does mental evaluations, called site testing, where tests consisting of varying true or false questions are administered to determine an individual's mental state.
"This test works better than some of the screening because a person is more likely to be honest when in an arbitrary test as opposed to a screening process," said Hartsfield. "If someone is anti-social then they are not going to want to tell the truth, but give them a test and they answer honestly."
The MHU does mental screening for individuals as a mainstay, but also offers a wide variety of services to medical staff.
"We also teach suicide awareness and restraint classes to medical staff," said Hartsfield. "The restraint classes are for situations when someone becomes violent. This course shows staff how to restrain an individual, without damage to the individual, and is intended for anyone in a patient care setting [on the Depot] and at the Naval Hospital Beaufort."
Along with raising awareness to problems with others, the MHU also provides counseling for the individual.
"We offer general counseling," said Hartsfield. "For instance, if someone was having problems with a co-worker or with their marriage we handle that as well."
Counseling applies not only to personal problems but also to the stress that can arise from those situations.
"We provide avenues on how to better deal with stress through counseling and therapy," said Hartsfield.
One method for dealing with stress is a counseling process known as Stress Management Therapy.
"The majority of our patients are recruits, although most people have a fair amount of stress," said Lt. Bonnie R. Chavez, Psychologist. "Stress can take a toll on all of us in very different ways."
Stress management can be a good course of action to help with a multitude of physical problems in addition to the mental aspects.
"Stress can show up in physical complaints," said Chavez. "It is not unusual for people to experience sleep problems, tension headaches and loss of appetite."
Once the symptoms are recognized, the MHU staff has many methods to deal with and help ease those symptoms.
"There are different approaches and methods for relaxation therapy," said Chavez. "Some of the methods are breathing training and progressive muscle relaxation for muscle tension."
In addition to counseling programs, the MHU helps people see for themselves the things that are leading to the stress itself.
"We also help people recognize patterns in their lives to improve sleep and their exercise programs," said Chavez. "Everyone is dealing with [stress] but not always in the most optimal way."
From stress management to new recruit evaluations, the MHU has a daunting task each week and approaches it with a renewed source of inspiration.
"What keeps this job interesting, is the cause as opposed to the disorder itself," said Hartsfield. "The day-to-day disorders and situations are not as interesting as what got the patient there in the first place. That makes it just as unique as a fingerprint."
http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/newthread.php?s=&action=newthread&forumid=38
The Drifter
:marine:
Story Identification Number: 200411610466
Story by Lance Cpl. Brian Kester
MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C.(Jan. 16, 2003) -- A recruit sits in his chair, not stiff and ready for anything, but totally relaxed amid an air of tranquil thoughts-that is his mission. He is doing exactly as he has been taught, to follow orders to a tee. It starts from his head and leads to his toes -- a process of tensing and then relaxing the muscles to reduce stress. He is led on this journey by a member of the Mental Health Unit.
The MHU staff counsels recruits and permanent personnel with personal problems, as well as educates medical personnel and administrates therapy to anyone who is overstressed.
"On a busy day we see eight to 12 recruits and about three permanent personnel," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Traviell A. Hartsfield, leading petty officer for the Mental Health Unit.
For each of the people they see, the department does mental evaluations, called site testing, where tests consisting of varying true or false questions are administered to determine an individual's mental state.
"This test works better than some of the screening because a person is more likely to be honest when in an arbitrary test as opposed to a screening process," said Hartsfield. "If someone is anti-social then they are not going to want to tell the truth, but give them a test and they answer honestly."
The MHU does mental screening for individuals as a mainstay, but also offers a wide variety of services to medical staff.
"We also teach suicide awareness and restraint classes to medical staff," said Hartsfield. "The restraint classes are for situations when someone becomes violent. This course shows staff how to restrain an individual, without damage to the individual, and is intended for anyone in a patient care setting [on the Depot] and at the Naval Hospital Beaufort."
Along with raising awareness to problems with others, the MHU also provides counseling for the individual.
"We offer general counseling," said Hartsfield. "For instance, if someone was having problems with a co-worker or with their marriage we handle that as well."
Counseling applies not only to personal problems but also to the stress that can arise from those situations.
"We provide avenues on how to better deal with stress through counseling and therapy," said Hartsfield.
One method for dealing with stress is a counseling process known as Stress Management Therapy.
"The majority of our patients are recruits, although most people have a fair amount of stress," said Lt. Bonnie R. Chavez, Psychologist. "Stress can take a toll on all of us in very different ways."
Stress management can be a good course of action to help with a multitude of physical problems in addition to the mental aspects.
"Stress can show up in physical complaints," said Chavez. "It is not unusual for people to experience sleep problems, tension headaches and loss of appetite."
Once the symptoms are recognized, the MHU staff has many methods to deal with and help ease those symptoms.
"There are different approaches and methods for relaxation therapy," said Chavez. "Some of the methods are breathing training and progressive muscle relaxation for muscle tension."
In addition to counseling programs, the MHU helps people see for themselves the things that are leading to the stress itself.
"We also help people recognize patterns in their lives to improve sleep and their exercise programs," said Chavez. "Everyone is dealing with [stress] but not always in the most optimal way."
From stress management to new recruit evaluations, the MHU has a daunting task each week and approaches it with a renewed source of inspiration.
"What keeps this job interesting, is the cause as opposed to the disorder itself," said Hartsfield. "The day-to-day disorders and situations are not as interesting as what got the patient there in the first place. That makes it just as unique as a fingerprint."
http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/newthread.php?s=&action=newthread&forumid=38
The Drifter
:marine: