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Office of Work-Life Programs -
Stress Management Program
Who is Eligible for this Program?
The Stress Management Program is available to the
following members of Team Coast Guard:
- Active Duty members and their dependents
- Reservists
- Civilian Employees of the Coast Guard
Purpose of Program
Safety and operational readiness are closely tied to the
ability of personnel to endure the physical, mental and environmental
demands of work, social and family systems. Stress management supplements
operational risk management programs by focusing specifically on risks
that pertain directly to the wear and tear of stress on personnel. The
purpose of effective and healthy stress management programs is to identify
and control factors that can reduce human endurance and thereby compromise
safety and operational readiness. The Health Promotion Program assists
Coast Guard members by providing various stress management awareness and
skills trainings. One of the best resources now available is the:
CG SUPRT (Employee Assistance Program) 1-855-CGSUPRT (247-8778) Web (for EAP): www.CGSUPRT.com
Definitions
The following definitions apply to Stress Management:
- Distress: “Bad” stress, perceived as negative and associated with a sense of loss of control.
- Eustress: “Good” stress, perceived as positive and associated with a sense of control.
- Stress: The non-specific response of the body to any demands placed upon it or what you feel after you encounter a stressor (anxiety, frustration, depression, etc.)
- Stressors: The causes of stress (transfers, deadlines, etc.)
- Stressmap: A stress management tool used to measure a person’s personal stress load.
Requesting Services or Resources
These services or resources can be obtained by contacting the Health
Promotions Manager on your
Regional Work-Life Staff. Work-Life Staffs are located at Integrated
Support Commands CG-wide and at the Headquarters Support Command. The services provided by the
Employee Assistance Program Coordinator (EAPC) are available for
professional assistance with Stress Management.
Awareness and Skills Training
The Health Promotion Program collaborates with the
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and
the Office of Safety and Environmental Health
to offer several different types of stress awareness and skills training to
meet the needs of the individual or the unit. These trainings include:
- Navy and Marine Corps Combat and Operational Stress Control - This is an excellent tool to evaluate stress within a command.
- Personal Wellness Profiles - The PWP is a tool used to evaluate a person’s overall health risks. Stress levels and stress coping mechanisms are just one aspect of the PWP analysis, others of which include coronary and cancer risk, alcohol and weight management, physical fitness and injury prevention.
- Unit All Hands Training - Regional Health Promotion Managers can offer unit training on stress management at the request of the command. In addition, HPMs may also maintain a library of educational materials related to stress management.
- Critical Incident Stress Management, COMDTINST 1754.3 - Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is training provided by the EAP program. CISM involves an integrated system of interventions designed to prevent and/or mitigate the adverse psychological reactions often accompanying disaster response functions. CISM training can be offered in preparation for an upcoming mission or upon the return of the unit after responding to a traumatic incident. For more information about CISM training, please contact the EAP Coordinator at your ISC.
- Crew Endurance Management, COMDTINST 3500.2 (series). The Office of Safety and Environmental Health (CG-13) manages the Crew Endurance Management (CEM) Program. CEM can be used by commands to assess the endurance risk factors of their crew that may ultimately compromise the safety and effective execution of the mission. For more information about CEM, see COMDTINST 3500.2.
Related Web Sites
The following web sites provide information related to the Stress
Management Program:
- American Institute of Stress - http://www.stress.org. Provides newsletters and information regarding stress.
- International Stress Management Association - http://www.isma.org.uk/site/isma/content-folder/home. Charity that promotes knowledge and practice in stress prevention and reduction.
- Job Stress Help - http://www.jobstresshelp.com. Offers online assistance for those experiencing job stress.
Point of Contact
If you are unable to contact the Health Promotions Manager on your
Regional Work-Life Staff, or need additional
assistance beyond the information provided here, please contact the
Headquarters Health Promotions Program Manager, Tim Merrell at (202)
475-5146, fax (202) 475-5907, or e-mail at
Timothy.M.Merrell@uscg.mil.
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