Miller Phil E, Warner Bud
Human Service Studies, Elon University, Campus Box, 2338, Elon, NC 27244.
Mil Med. 2013 Dec;178(12):1316-21. doi: 10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00023.
The deployment experiences of military mental health providers (MMHP) since September 2001 have been largely unexamined. MMHP are an integral part to the military health system and play a key role in maintaining a fit fighting force. MMHP deploy and are expected to help others manage their deployment experiences while being faced with their own emotional challenges during deployment and while transitioning home. This study examines two questions: First, how do MMHP experience reintegration to their families and jobs after being deployed, and second, how do MMHP assess and cope with their own postdeployment issues. In this study, 27 mental health professionals including social workers, psychiatrist, and psychologist were interviewed to examine their deployment and postdeployment experiences. Results indicated 81% of MMHP recognized some level of dysfunction in their lives, at home, at work, or at both, upon their return from deployment. The ability for MMHP to manage their own reintegration issues has significance for their own personal well-being as well as their ability to provide specialized care for others. Attention needs to be given to how MMHP are supported postdeployment and possibly tailor a transitional process for postdeployment reintegration based on the unique nature of their work.
自2001年9月以来，军事心理健康服务提供者（MMHP）的部署经历在很大程度上未得到审视。MMHP是军事卫生系统不可或缺的一部分，在维持一支健康的战斗部队方面发挥着关键作用。MMHP进行部署，并且在部署期间以及回国过渡期间，在面对自身情感挑战的同时，还要帮助他人应对部署经历。本研究探讨两个问题：第一，MMHP在部署后重新融入家庭和工作的经历是怎样的；第二，MMHP如何评估和应对自身的部署后问题。在本研究中，对27名心理健康专业人员进行了访谈，这些人员包括社会工作者、精神科医生和心理学家，以考察他们的部署及部署后经历。结果显示，81%的MMHP在从部署地返回后，意识到自己在生活、家庭、工作或两方面存在一定程度的功能失调。MMHP管理自身重新融入问题的能力对其个人幸福以及为他人提供专业护理的能力都具有重要意义。需要关注MMHP在部署后如何得到支持，并可能根据其工作的独特性质为部署后重新融入量身定制一个过渡过程。
