Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services OEF/OIF Overview ~~~~ Connecticut Military Support Program Jim Tackett Director, Veterans Services Serving Connecticut’s Citizen Soldiers, Veterans and Their Families

OEF Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan ~~~~~ OIF Operation Iraqi Freedom – Iraq ~~~~~ OND Operation New Dawn - Iraq (effective Spring 2010)

Hidden Wounds of War n RAND Study, April 2008 ¨ 18. 5% (300, 000) PTSD, Depression, Anxiety ¨ 19% (320, 000) m. TBI n Milliken, Aucherlone, JAMA, Nov 2007 ¨ 20% active duty report psychological symptoms ¨ 42. 4% reserve component report symptoms n Do. D MH Task Force Final Report, Mar 2007 ¨ 37% active duty Army report psychological symptoms ¨ 49% reservists report Symptoms

Prolonged exposure to trauma physiological changes* In War Zone n Situational Awareness Now Home n. Hypervigilance n Attention to detail/ rigorous mission rehearsal n Intolerance of mistakes Continuous night time missions n Ability to direct anger (which reduces fear) n Shut down emotions to focus on mission n Difficulty sleeping n * Hoge CW Spring-loaded/difficulty regulating emotion n Emotional numbing/ avoidance n

Prolonged exposure to trauma physiological changes Hoge summarizes that going to war changes how the body functions, and the expectation that this will reset quickly upon return home is unrealistic. There is no switch to restore physiological functions back to the way they were before deployment. A dial is a better metaphor. It’s best to understand these body responses from the perspective of how they serve important functions in a combat environment, and then look for ways to dial these responses down after returning home.

New Clinical Thinking Road home following war is a path through predictable emotional and behavioral challenges Spectrum of war zone stress response (Partial PTSD) Challenge is to normalize psychological symptoms associated with the deployment cycle De-mystify behavioral health care Assist newly returned veterans to treatment and support

MILITARY SUPPORT PROGRAM Provides counseling services to Veterans, including National Guard and Reserve members and to their families

Military Support Program 440 licensed clinicians located throughout the State ~~~~ Accessed through a 24/7 Call Center

MSP Counseling Services are: n. Free n. Confidential n. Locally n. Serves available Family Members

MSP Embedded Clinician Program n 29 MSP clinicians are now embedded within National Guard Units that have been, or will be, affected by deployment(s) n Familiar, on-site presence, each unit’s key POC for behavioral health matters n Reduce stigma by encouraging open, honest discussion of behavioral health issues among soldiers, airmen and family members n Provide immediate access to behavioral health services

Connecticut Military Support Program ~~~~~~~ To access MSP services call 1 -866 -251 -2913 ~~~~~~~ Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

Responsibilities of a Grateful Nation n Assure the good health and well-being of every returning soldier n Support the military family throughout the deployment cycle n Develop social structures that may harness and support the involvement of the community in assisting veterans and their families to excellence in their lives following their experience in war. LTCOL (Chaplain) John Morris

DMHAS Veterans Services Serving Connecticut’s Citizen-Soldiers, Veterans and Their Families Jim Tackett, Director Office of the Commissioner Dept. of Mental Health and Addiction Services 410 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06134 860 -418 -6979