The Social Work Team At Asymca

Combat veterans are among the highest at risk for issues in transitioning form military life to civilian. Many potentially suffer from both physical and/or mental traumas. Many veterans and even active duty services members have allowed the unofficial culture of if you need mental or medical help you are weak. Many military families are also afraid of utilizing family support mechanisms out of fear of

The main problem discovered is military members are experiencing psychological problems from stressors due to deployments and not seeking help for their discomforts. Many of the military members returning

To summarize (Kaplow, Layne, Saltztman, Cozza & Pynoos, 2013, p. 322-340) this article looks at how grief through exposure to loss due to combat fights, loss of fellow unit members, or the loss of a service member can affect a service member or military family during deployment and reintegration phases. The article goes on to discuss some of the stresses that can increase due to deployments such as martial conflicts, abuse or neglect, and mental health problems stemming from both spouses or children. More military children function equally as well as their civilian counterparts, except during times of deployment where they experience more emotional and behavioral problems. The article looks at three key areas Separation distress characterized as missing the deceased. Existential/Identity Distress finding meaning or fulfillment, or taking on roles left by the deceased. Circumstance-Related Distress characterized as emotional pain brought on by how the deceased passed. The article furthermore looks into how the age of the military children plays into their separation distress. Followed by their existential/identity Distress may be disrupted by new

Allen, E. S., Rhoades, G. K., Stanley, S. M., & Markman, H. J. (2010). Hitting home: Relationships between recent deployment, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and marital functioning for Army couples. Journal Of Family Psychology, 24(3), 280-288. doi:10.1037/a0019405

There is a large amount of military families around the world. About Forty- three percent of active military members have children (Website). These children face so many challenges and struggles in their life while having a parent in the military. Children of Active duty military members exhibit anxiety, depression and stress just as much as the service members and spouses experience. For instance the children experience going through multiple deployments, long separations, frequent moves and awkward reunions when their parents return home from deployment. Even more so if the parent has been physically or mentally traumatized from overseas.

Upon learning from a Connecticut National Guard recruiter that I was ineligible to enlist in any branch of the United States Armed Forces due to a chronic illness that will require medication indefinitely, I was devastated. However, despite this devastation, it was my desire to serve and to be a part of the military culture that became the driving force behind the decision to become a certified Military Service Members, Veterans and Their Families – Advanced Social Worker (MVF-ASW). Even though this career does not involve being on the front lines, I can still provide direct services to the children of active duty service members as they navigate the extended deployments, frequent moves and strained familial relationships. Even though this particular credential is not mandatory to work as a youth services coordinator on a military base, it is recommended because it will provide me with the specialized knowledge and understanding of military culture that can help me to be a more effective social worker in this particular field.

The United States of America has a crisis existing within its population of returning veterans. More and more, we see veterans of the war in Iraq, the war in Afghanistan, and the war on Terror, return with not only debilitating physical wounds, but longer lasting psychological wounds of war. Furthermore, there’s a stigma with mental health in the country which dictates; if you seek help for mental health issues, you’re weak. This isn’t only a problem amongst returning veterans, but all citizens. The returning warrior shouldn’t have to go speak with someone about their feelings. This is a common utterance heard when veterans return. The epidemic of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) amongst returning veterans, combined with the stigma of weakness and worthlessness for seeking help, is creating an almost impossible transition between military and civilian life. Not only are veterans experiencing issues with PTSD and other psychological afflictions having to battle with these afflictions, but they are finding themselves having difficulty finding help along with trying to cope with an otherwise insensitive and naïve population of people; some of whom are completely incapable of understanding, let alone empathy towards any situation besides their own. The review you are about to read serves as research into methods of coping, as well as helpful tactics for the reintegrating veteran.

For military veterans, reintegrating into a civilian lifestyle post-deployment comes with many different challenges. These challenges range from reconnecting with loved ones to receiving treatment for stress-induced mental health diagnoses. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) impacts thousands of military personnel, both active and veteran status, each year. Based on the DSM definition of PTSD, this diagnosis impacts both the sufferer’s life and also his or her close personal relationships. These negative impacts in addition to reintegration into civilian life can result in a greater difficulty with relationship reintegration. In a study done by Elliott, Gonzalez, and Larsen in 2011, PTSD was found to be a mediating variable between intimate relationship strain and combat exposure.

The main preventive areas are breaking down of the family, social withdrawal and isolation, employment difficulties, and substance use/abuse (Iraq War Clinician Guide, 2004).The prevention of family breakdown begin with soldiers returning home after war. The families and soldiers experiencing problems with deployment and helping the solider and family adjust is the initial part of helping the family. Preventing the family breakdown, teaching communication conflict resolution, anger management, and parenting skills, allows for a stronger support and decrease in symptoms(Iraq War Clinician Guide, 2004). The prevention of social withdraw and isolation is vital because PTSD greatly influences social functioning (Iraq War Clinician Guide, 2004). The initial anticipation of social withdraw and isolation is helping the soldier create new social relationships with a variety of other people, colleagues, family, relatives, friends (Iraq War Clinician Guide, 2004). Preventive measures allow for social isolation to be addressed early before it becomes a problem. Employment problems are a factor for prevention, preventing job turnover helps in many areas, self-esteem and creating relationships (Iraq War Clinician Guide, 2004). Anger, authority difficulties and irritability cause job turnover and steady employment attributes to reduction of social impairment and functioning and finical stress. The

War has tremendous effects on the human mind and impacts all parties involved. Remnants of war can dramatically affect relationships with loved ones and create greater problems ranging from financial problems to psychological damage that has more profound effects on the family infrastructure and its operation. The notion of war produces pressures and strains on the family that is not experienced everyday in the routine family life. Family member who experience PTSD from their service in the military also places unforeseen weights and consequences for the family to carry. There are specific effects distinct to a parent, a spouse, and children when a loved one is serving their country. The relationships between a service men and these family members are transformed with the absence and their reintegration.

This article identifies the effects of combat exposure on a group of Army National Guard Soldiers and explores the secondary and mediating effects of combat on the soldiers’ spouses and children. The top three questions overall asked in this study was: if the Soldiers were deployed to combat from a Midwestern Army National Guard unit which experienced higher levels of traumatic stress symptoms; whether Soldiers traumatic stress symptoms are correlated with secondary stress experienced by their spouse and children; whether secondary spousal stress symptoms mediate the secondary stress experienced by their children. The way the study was tested was through many series of tests and surveys. Introductory letters, sealed surveys and reminder cards were sent to 1,011 households. The introductory letter described the study and addressed the possible risks and benefits from participating in the project. The survey was mailed out and followed by three reminder cards, which were sent over a seven-week period. However, not all houses received the survey section of the project because the household needed to have an Army National Guard Solider, a spouse living with them and at

A service member’s emotional and psychological issues are not like malfunctions of a piece of equipment and must not be treated as a troubleshooting problem in a technical manual. And yet this seems to be the only way the military, as a whole, knows how to address the issue of a service members mental health. It requires a holistic approach that is not currently embraced by the military. Historically, the military has been ill-equipped to handle the shifting nature of the psychological issues created by introducing a service member to the battlefield.

Deployment and integration are one the greatest challenges military families and children have to face on a daily basis. When a family member deploys or reintegrates within the entire family, it not only affects the service member but it affects the entire family. Deployment can often lead to families and children, experiencing a negative mental health outcomes and compromised wellbeing. Bello (2015) found that most families and children (80.5% required less than one month to adjust to the return of their deployed parent (Bello, 2015). Accordingly, the families and children are often quick to adjust to having their family member back in the home. Interestingly, discoveries are surprising in light of the fact that when contrasted to another family, the discoveries are definitely unique. Boberiene (2014) found that three out of every four families feel that reintegration after the first three months is the most stressful phase of a deployment (Boberiene, 2014). This is because the family experiences many emotions while the member is away.

Gloria, thank for your discussion. I am familiar with what military families go through because of friends and family members that struggle with the ups and downs. I found it interesting the author did not establish a control group as you mentioned to compare the group to other groups. For example, those that have spouses that travel for extended period of time. Would these two situations have some similar cause and effect symptoms to the family unit? I recall reading in the text that  Greenstein and Davis (2013) stated that selecting and analyzing groups is critical in providing accurate information to the general reader.

HomeFront Strong (HFS) is an eight week, group intervention for military spouses promoting positive psychological health, individual resiliency and support for military families (Kees, Nerenberg, Bachrach, & Sommer, 2015). The HFS modules include: fostering resilience, managing stress, promote optimism, re-think thinking, build community, allowing emotions and staying strong (Kees et al., 2015). During sessions, HFS participants practice life skills using interactive lessons. Self-care and grounding strategies are taught in each session which includes breathing and muscle relaxation techniques and mindfulness training. In group settings, HFS participants work with a facilitator to connect to additional resources in the community. Participants