Combat Stress Control and Prevention: What Can Be Learned from an Application of Workplace Behavioral Health in a Deployed Combat Environment?

Abstract

This article details a Combat Stress Control and Prevention (CSCP) team's tour during Operation Iraqi Freedom. It highlights the similarities between battlefield and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) behavioral health care methods and practices. A CSCP team's mission is to provide battle-front direct mental health services to commanders and combatants via consultation, education, advocacy and proximal prevention, intervention and stabilization, and if indicated, evacuation of overstressed troops. This team's access, credibility, and social networking were critical in preventing and responding to war-fighter's combat stressors in a timely manner. As in EAP work, credibility with leadership and bridging social capital are essential components for workplace behavioral health prevention success.

Stress Control for Military, Law Enforcement, and First Responders: A Systematic Review

“…The team consisted of a licensed social worker, psychiatrist, and two behavioral health specialists (paraprofessional allied health workers). This case study reported a 95 percent return-to-duty rate (Hassan et al, 2010). A case study of the Witmer Wellness Center in Iraq (Parrish, 2008), which focused on dialectical behavioral therapy, reported a return-to-duty rate of over 99 percent.…”

An Evaluation of U.S. Military Non-Medical Counseling Programs

“…Upon return from deployment, challenges with reintegration into family and civilian life may also produce feelings of stress and anxiety (Hosek, Kavanagh, and Miller, 2006;Hassan et al, 2010;Koenig et al, 2014;Castro, Kintzle, and Hassan, 2015). Stress and anxiety affect every one at some point, and can impact levels of productivity as well as military and family readiness.…”

“…Upon return from deployment, reintegration with family and into civilian life can produce a "reverse culture shock" experience, and may manifest as feelings of guilt, insecurity, hypervigilance, or feeling "out of sync" or "out of control" (Hosek, Kavanagh, and Miller, 2006;Hassan et al, 2010;Koenig et al, 2014;Castro, Kintzle, and Hassan, 2015).…”

“…Programs have also demonstrated increased career benefits among program participants, including higher promotion rates (Hudak et al, 2009) and higher rates of returning to duty following stressful experiences (Air Force Combat Stress Control and Prevention; Hassan et al, 2010).…”