STRESS AND COPING WITH TRAUMA OF WAR IN THE PERSIAN GULF

File: 110596_sep96_decls2_0027.txt
Page: 0027
Total Pages: 48

Subject: STRESS AND COPING WITH TRAUMA OF WAR IN THE PERSIAN GULF        

Unit: VAR. BUMED  

Parent Organization: BUMED       

Box ID: BX303818

Folder Title: USNS COMFORT TAH 20 MEDICAL ARTICLES 1991 1992                                                  

Document Number:          4

Folder SEQ  #:         13













                Xental Health Care



                    The USNS Comfort deployed without a plan for the

                provision of mental health services. Almost immediately,

                the ship's psychiatrist, psychologist, and social worker

                combined forces with a psychiatric nurse and a chaplain to

                form a mental health team. Each member agreed to meet daily

                and share their activities and perceptions with the rest of

                the team. In this way, "turf issues" and redundancy in the

                provision of services was minimized. Frequent meetings with

                open exchange of ideas promoted trust and camaraderie. The

                team members provided support to one another and developed a

                coherent and proactive mental health plan. Knowledge of the

                unique stressors on the USNS Comfort crew and other deployed

                forces allowed the mental health team to prioritize mental

                health services.

                     Education, command consultation, and group

                interventions were emphasized. The team agreed that if

                group function could be improved, individuals would

                withstand greater levels of stress. In parallel fashion,

                the mental health team fought off its own inclination to

                function as a set of individuals. Daily meetings were

                mandatory and provided a forum for both planning and team

                building.






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Document 48 f:/Week-39/BX303818/USNS COMFORT TAH 20 MEDICAL ARTICLES 1991 1992/stress and coping with trauma of war in the pers:1104960910243
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-39
Box ID = BX303818
Unit = VAR. BUMED
Parent Organization = BUMED
Folder Title = USNS COMFORT TAH 20 MEDICAL ARTICLES 1991 1992
Folder Seq # = 13
Subject = STRESS AND COPING WITH TRAUMA OF WAR IN THE PERS
Document Seq # = 4
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 04-NOV-1996