DCoE Blog

• How to Stop Using Substances to Relax

  Posted by Beth Schwinn, DCoE Public Affairs from Real Warriors on October 11, 2016

  

  Having a glass of wine or beer is a common way to relax at the end of a day or week. But alcohol or other mood-enhancing substances can be an unhealthy and ineffective way to cope with bigger issues, as this post from Real Warriors explains.

  Substance misuse is a common concern facing service members, veterans and civilians. Substances like alcohol, tobacco and drugs may be used as a way to cope with stress related to combat, reintegration or a psychological health concern. Although using substances may feel like a way to unwind or give you relief, their misuse can have a lasting, serious impact on your life. These impacts can include harm to your health and relationships. They can also lead to work troubles, financial or legal difficulties, or even death.

  Categories: DCoE, Substance Misuse Treatment, Psychological Health   |   Comments (0)

• What to Do When Bad News Brings the Blues

  Posted by Beth Schwinn, DCoE Public Affairs from AfterDeployment on October 6, 2016

  

  With news and social media focused on the tragic events happening around the world, you may feel you lack control over the outcome or an inability to really make a difference. This post from AfterDeployment explains why and offers ways to let go.

  …There is a happy medium between consuming the news and becoming consumed with the news. Since the introduction of 24-hour news networks, we rarely get to the end of a news story. There will always be additional details, interviews and expert opinions on important topics. News websites have provided us nearly instant access to important information, but they are designed to pull us in and send us off to related stories. There will never be a message saying, “That’s it. You know everything there is to know about this topic. Go take a walk.”

  Categories: Psychological Health   |   Comments (0)

• Clinician’s Corner: Help Your Patients and Yourself Feel Comfortable Talking About Suicide

  Posted by Rebecca Kauten, Ph.D., Danielle Worthington, Ph.D., Jennifer Tucker, Ph.D., and Marjan G. Holloway, Ph.D., Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Laboratory for the Treatment of Suicide-Related Ideation and Behavior on September 30, 2016

  

  For the past eight years, suicide is among the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

  Despite its prevalence, suicide remains a sensitive topic often considered taboo. The effects of stigma related to suicide are of particular importance for those in the military. There is a common perception among service members that if they share their thoughts of suicide with others, they may experience negative repercussions that will affect their careers.

  As mental health professionals, we too are susceptible to personal beliefs that perpetuate stigma. Without knowing it, we may bring these beliefs and fears (rooted in stigma) into the therapy room.

  Categories: Clinician’s Corner, Treatment, Psychological Health, prevention   |   Comments (0)

• Fortify Caregivers to Prevent Compassion Fatigue

  Posted by Sidney R. Hinds III, DCoE Public Affairs on September 23, 2016

  

  Compassion fatigue is a natural occurrence that may affect health care providers and the quality of care they provide to patients, a professor of social work said in a psychological health webinar hosted last month by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.

  Brian E. Bride, a professor of social work at Georgia State University and editor in chief of “Traumatology: An International Journal,” outlined the risks of compassion fatigue. Bride also explained strategies caregivers can apply to minimize its impact on their mental states and on the care they provide.

  Compassion fatigue occurs in caregivers who regularly treat patients who have experienced trauma. This secondhand trauma can produce symptoms identical to those of posttraumatic stress disorder, including intrusive thoughts, irritability, loss of emotional control and loss of concentration. These symptoms may affect providers’ ability to respond to patients.

  Recent studies of health care providers indicate that close to half of providers experience compassion fatigue and a significant portion say it negatively affects their work.

  Categories: DCoE Webinar Rewind, Resilience, DCoE Products, DCoE, Treatment, Psychological Health   |   Comments (0)

• Defense Department News: Military Crisis Line Specialist Helps Fellow Veterans

  Posted by Myron J. Goodman, DCoE Public Affairs from Defense Media Activity on September 21, 2016

  

  Knowing where to turn in a time of crisis is important. Many of us have family members, fellow service members, colleagues or friends we can reach out to. But, it’s not always easy, or best, to talk about what we’re going through with someone close to us. A recent Defense Department article explores how a crisis line specialist helps other veterans.

  Categories: Resources, Depression, Psychological Health   |   Comments (0)

• DCoE Director: Honing our Efforts to Reduce Suicide - a Public Health Scourge

  Posted by Navy Capt. (Dr.) Mike Colston, DCoE director on September 6, 2016

  

  This article by Capt. Mike Colston, director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, is reposted from the Military Health System in recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

  Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is a national observance during the month of September, but suicide prevention is a priority for the Department of Defense (DoD) every day of the year. Suicide is a pressing public health issue. Suicide rates have increased alarmingly in the U.S. over the past two decades. The Defense Health Agency (DHA) will lead in preventing suicide through three lines of action: fostering research, translating clinical knowledge to the field and informing policy.

  Research

  The evidence base for suicide prevention remains thin. Research efforts such as the “Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Service members Longitudinal Project” (STARRS-LP) and protocols under the cognizance of the Military Suicide Research Consortium are producing slow but hard-won gains in the science of suicidology.

  Categories: Suicide, DCoE, Depression, Psychological Health, Leadership   |   Comments (2)