Telebehavioral Health in Afghanistan

Abstract

Providing behavioral health care to numerous beneficiaries spread over a large and dangerous area is a unique and challenging responsibility faced by the U.S. Army in the deployed environment. We describe the use of telebehavioral health as one tool available to behavioral health officers in Afghanistan to reach remote service members when face-to-face encounters are not possible or practical. Finally, challenges to the current telebehavioral system established during Operation Enduring Freedom are discussed, with recommendations made for implementation in future deployed settings.