Professionals and researchers across the behavioral health field agree that preventing suicide is a complex problem that must be addressed at multiple levels. In honor of Suicide Prevention Month, I’d like to reflect on a couple of resources I wish I had known about earlier and share with you some resources that the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) will release in 2024.
“What if….?” questions come up frequently as we instruct or consult on evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs). You probably recall imagining all of the worst-case scenarios when you were first learning a new treatment. Even seasoned clinicians still find themselves asking “what if…?” questions while delivering treatment. And more than once I’ve found myself faced with that scenario that I’ve been dreading for years and suddenly have to figure out “What do I do now?”
In our first episode of season 4, we tackle one of the top concerns we hear in our PTSD EBP workshops and consultation… “But what if my client dissociates?!”. If this has been on your list of clinical worries, worry no more! In this episode we are joined by one of CDP’s PTSD experts, Dr. Kelly Chrestman to dig into what is dissociation (and what isn’t)? What is its function? How can we best assess it? When is it likely to show up? AND most importantly, what providers can do to manage it in the context of their EBP work!
We often hear about the high rates of mental health disorders among service members; however, these rates typically reflect only those diagnoses received or the disorders treated while in-garrison. The mental health burden experienced while in-theater has been frequently underreported. This represents an important gap in our understanding of the behavioral health care needs of service members while deployed as well as the training needs of deploying providers.
In this blog, Jennifer Nevers, MSW, LCSW will discuss the benefits of engaging the Chaplain Corps to improve access to behavioral health care among National Guard soldiers and airmen. She will review the benefits of utilizing military Chaplains to address common conditions faced by service members and overcome the stigma of seeking mental health care within the military community.