Contrasting the Impacts of Combat and Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief Missions on the Mental Health of Military Service Members

Cunha, Jesse M.; Shen, Yu‐Chu; Burke, Zachary R.

doi:10.1080/10242694.2017.1349365

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The pandemic quickly created an environment that stoked fear among employees, amplifying their feelings of stress, anxiety, and isolation, 19 , 28 and highlighting the need for healthcare organizations to develop a “proactive, comprehensive wellness strategy” for their employees. 10 Similarly, the general public also faced significant stress and uncertainty during the pandemic 29 , 30 with Veterans in particular facing a high risk of increased anxiety and stress due to pre-existing trauma 31 – 34 and greater economic insecurity. 35 Given the inherent alignment between the principles of WH and the needs of Veterans and employees whose lives had been deeply affected by the pandemic, sites in our study found that the pandemic presented a unique opportunity to showcase the value of a proactive WH approach to care.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaning Into Whole Health: Sustaining System Transformation While Supporting Patients and Employees During COVID-19

Dryden

Bolton

Bokhour

et al. 2021

Glob Adv Health Med

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Background The US Veterans Health Administration (VA) is transforming its healthcare system to create a Whole Health System (WHS) of care. Akin to such reorganization efforts as creating patient-centered medical homes and primary care behavioral health integration, the WHS goes beyond by transforming the entire system to one that takes a proactive approach to support patient and employee health and wellness. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic disrupted the VA’s healthcare system and added stress for staff and patients, creating an exogenous shock for this transformation towards a WHS. Objective We examined the relationship between VA’s WHS transformation and the pandemic to understand if transformation was sustained during crisis and contributed to VA’s response. Methods Qualitative interviews were conducted as part of a multi-year study of WHS transformation. A single multi-person interview was conducted with 61 WHS leaders at 18 VA Medical Centers, examining WH transformation and use during the pandemic. Data were analyzed using rapid directed content analysis. Results While the pandemic initially slowed transformation efforts, sites intentionally embraced a WH approach to support patients and employees during this crisis. Efforts included conducting patient wellness calls, and, for patients and employees, promoting complementary and integrative health therapies, self-care, and WH concepts to combat stress and support wellbeing. A surge in virtual technology use facilitated innovative delivery of complementary and integrative therapies and promoted continued use of WH activities. Conclusion The pandemic called attention to the need for healthcare systems to address the wellbeing of both patients and providers to sustain high quality care delivery. At a time of crisis, VA sites sustained WH transformation efforts, recognizing WH as one strategy to support patients and employees. This response indicates cultural transformation is taking hold, with WH serving as a promising approach for promoting wellbeing among patients and employees alike.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaning Into Whole Health: Sustaining System Transformation While Supporting Patients and Employees During COVID-19

Dryden

Bolton

Bokhour

et al. 2021

Glob Adv Health Med

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show abstract

“…Third, several of the publications present unadjusted analyses or results from non-randomized studies with no control group, increasing the risk of bias. Additionally, most of the included studies (n = 12) did not provide or include information on one or more of the following factors which may be important modifiers of the association between having a veteran parent and child mental health outcomes: deployment length (Chandra, Martin, Hawkins, & Richardson, 2010;Mansfield, Kaufman, Engel, & Gaynes, 2011;Richardson et al, 2011) and type (Cunha, Shen, & Burke, 2018), family environment (Gewirtz & Zamir, 2014;Lester & Flake, 2014), and veteran and spouse mental health Lester & Flake, 2014;Mansfield, Kaufman, Engel, & Gaynes, 2011). Finally, most of the publications (n = 12) presented results based on parent-reported child mental health outcomes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental Health Among Children Living with Veterans: A Literature Mapping

Rayce

Andersen

Jørgensen

et al. 2019

Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies

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Introduction: Many deployed soldiers have children who may be affected by the parent's absence. Extensive studies on child mental health during deployment exist. Few focus on the reintegration period which can be challenging if the veteran suffers from physical or mental post-deployment effects. To gain knowledge on child consequences of living with a veteran parent and identify strategies/interventions that may relieve strain the first step is to characterize existing publications/research. Aim: To identify, report main findings, and characterize contemporary scientific publications on mental health among children living with a veteran parent. Method: Literature search (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and SocINDEX) and systematic mapping of mental health among children living with veterans after deployment (published 1990-2015). Inclusion criteria: Iraq, Balkan, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, or Libya deployments; child mental health outcome; peer-reviewed primary research from NATO/NATO-associated countries. Languages: English, German, or Scandinavian. Literature was coded after veteran post-deployment effects, deployment country, study nationality, publication type/methods, observational vs. experimental study, study design, and outcome categories. Mental health was divided into internalizing, externalizing, ADHD symptoms, secondary traumatization, and other mental health outcomes. Results: Publications included (n = 16) were mainly American reporting on children living with veteran parents deployed to Iraq/Afghanistan. A minority reported on post-deployment effects and focused solely on psychological injuries. Child internalization and externalization were the most frequent mental health outcomes addressed. Publications predominantly reported on quantitative longitudinal or cross-sectional study designs. Conclusion: This mapping suggests a need for high-quality publications based on European and Scandinavian samples, reports of post-deployment effects, and experimental studies.

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“…27 Many veterans may have deployed in support of humanitarian assistance/disaster relief missions, which typically do not involve armed combat but may expose service members to warlike situations, including social insecurity and suffering populations. 28 COVID-19 may be reminiscent of some of these deployments as well. 36 Consider instead: "In order to help us treat you, it would be useful for me to examine the arm.…”

Section: Trauma-informed Covid-19 Carementioning

confidence: 99%

Trauma-Informed Telehealth in the COVID-19 Era and Beyond

Gerber¹

2020

Federal Practitioner

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Contrasting the Impacts of Combat and Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief Missions on the Mental Health of Military Service Members

Cited by 8 publications

References 18 publications

Leaning Into Whole Health: Sustaining System Transformation While Supporting Patients and Employees During COVID-19

Leaning Into Whole Health: Sustaining System Transformation While Supporting Patients and Employees During COVID-19

Mental Health Among Children Living with Veterans: A Literature Mapping

Trauma-Informed Telehealth in the COVID-19 Era and Beyond

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