thedrifter
10-11-06, 07:39 AM
October 10, 2006
Families get tips for dealing with combat stress
By Karen Jowers
Staff writer
Families still want more information about recognizing problems related to combat stress, when to get help and how to get it.
With about 15 percent to 20 percent of soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan displaying some combat stress issues within 90 to 120 days, Army and Defense Department officials have been working to identify those issues and help soldiers.
At a family forum sponsored Tuesday in Washington at the annual conference of the Association of the United States Army, a participant said she had heard from women whose husbands had written them frequent love letters, saying they couldn’t wait to get home. Yet when the soldiers returned, they were withdrawn, and even left their wives in some cases.
Sylvia Kidd, director of family programs for AUSA, said families have told her they’ve gone to chaplains with concerns about their soldiers, and were told, “Give him some space.”
“But when the soldier has cleaned out the bank account and left, that may be too much space,” Kidd said.
Most chaplains know what to look for in terms of mental health issues, and know when to get that soldier or family member to another professional for help, one chaplain responded.
One resource for family members as well as soldiers is a program called “Battlemind.” During the 45-minute training, soldiers see a video with examples of behaviors, like a soldier snapping at his son who had asked him to shoot some hoops. The training also talks about issues such as using alcohol to go to sleep or to calm down.
It explains what behaviors are natural, and “gives permission for them to notice it’s becoming a problem,” said Army psychiatrist Col. Charles Milliken.
Milliken also encourages troops and their spouses to download the program — designed for them to watch together — at www.battlemind.org.
For those with questions who prefer to seek help outside the chain of command, Military OneSource provides someone to talk to 24 hours a day, toll-free, at (800) 342-9647; or online at www.militaryonesource.com.
Ellie
Families get tips for dealing with combat stress
By Karen Jowers
Staff writer
Families still want more information about recognizing problems related to combat stress, when to get help and how to get it.
With about 15 percent to 20 percent of soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan displaying some combat stress issues within 90 to 120 days, Army and Defense Department officials have been working to identify those issues and help soldiers.
At a family forum sponsored Tuesday in Washington at the annual conference of the Association of the United States Army, a participant said she had heard from women whose husbands had written them frequent love letters, saying they couldn’t wait to get home. Yet when the soldiers returned, they were withdrawn, and even left their wives in some cases.
Sylvia Kidd, director of family programs for AUSA, said families have told her they’ve gone to chaplains with concerns about their soldiers, and were told, “Give him some space.”
“But when the soldier has cleaned out the bank account and left, that may be too much space,” Kidd said.
Most chaplains know what to look for in terms of mental health issues, and know when to get that soldier or family member to another professional for help, one chaplain responded.
One resource for family members as well as soldiers is a program called “Battlemind.” During the 45-minute training, soldiers see a video with examples of behaviors, like a soldier snapping at his son who had asked him to shoot some hoops. The training also talks about issues such as using alcohol to go to sleep or to calm down.
It explains what behaviors are natural, and “gives permission for them to notice it’s becoming a problem,” said Army psychiatrist Col. Charles Milliken.
Milliken also encourages troops and their spouses to download the program — designed for them to watch together — at www.battlemind.org.
For those with questions who prefer to seek help outside the chain of command, Military OneSource provides someone to talk to 24 hours a day, toll-free, at (800) 342-9647; or online at www.militaryonesource.com.
Ellie