READJUSTMENT: Maryland Army National Guard and Reserve

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READJUSTMENTMaryland Army National Guard and
Reserve

• IAWP National Conference
• June 2008

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Who We Are

• Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR)
• Butch Hensel (410)234 - 3809
• Transition Assistance Advisor
• Mark Olanderoff (410) 702 - 9644
• Maryland Department of Mental Hygiene
• Laura Copeland (410) 724 - 3175
• Vet Center Deputy Regional Manager
• Terry Luper (410) 828 -6619

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Why We Are Here

• Educate employers on war experiences, combat and
  trauma stress, and TBI so you will have a better
  understanding of what employees may encounter
  upon their return.
• Provide employers with current information
  regarding the readjustment process of deployed
  National Guard Soldiers serving in the Global War
  on Terror (GWOT).
• Provide employers with useful resources to have
  available for employees when necessary.
• Foster goodwill and a collaborative environment
  in the workplace (Soldiers will view employers as
  being on the same team when they express the
  desire to help the veteran).

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The United States is a long way from Baghdad,
Kandahar, An Najaf or Fallujah
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Then they finally come home.
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Home does not look the same
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Sound the same . . .
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Or even smell the same!
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And face the challenge of transition and
readjustment.
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Readjustment is a stressful situation and stress
is normal.
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Soldiers may have experienced . . .

• Receiving artillery fire.
• Being shot at with small arms.
• Firing at the enemy.
• The sight of dead bodies or remains.
• An attack or ambush.
• Seeing a fellow Soldier get injured or killed.
• Seeing injured women/children and were unable to
  help.

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And some veterans may experience
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Combat Stress

• Combat stress is a natural result of the heavy
  mental and emotional work required when facing
  danger in tough conditions.
• Types of combat operational stress trauma,
  fatigue, grief.
• For many in the National Guard and Reserve, this
  war is their first combat experience. They are
  considerably older and entrenched in their home
  and work life and then put into life-threatening
• situations.

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Trauma Stress

• Traumatic events have always been a part of human
  experience.
• Trauma stress is a normal set of reactions to a
  trauma such as war, sexual trauma, or horrific
  accident which could be experienced by almost
  anyone. In the general population, the rate of
  incidence is 4.
• Sometimes it becomes a problem with the passage
  of time when the feelings or issues related to
  the trauma are not dealt with.
• This can result in problems readjusting to
  community life following the trauma.
• Left untreated, trauma reactions are highly
  predictive of physical illness, disrupted family
  life, and reduced career performance. Overcoming
  traumatic events is easier managed when addressed
  early.

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Symptoms of Trauma Reactions

• Most people who are exposed to sudden, dangerous
  or deadly events will often experience several of
  the following
• Startle reactions to loud noise or movement.
• Avoidance of people, movies or topics related to
  trauma experience.
• Sleep problems, dreams and nightmares.
• Guilt or depression.
• Isolation or alienation from others.
• Loss of interest in pleasurable activities.
• Concentration or memory problems.
• Reliving of traumatic memories.
• Anniversary reactions to the trauma.
• Problems with interpersonal relationships.
• Overly watchful or hypervigilant.
• Restlessness.

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Distress Responses

• Common responses after involvement in high stress
  situations.
• Physical or emotional in nature.
• Usually mild, dissipate after several weeks.
• Problems that interfere with a Soldiers ability
  to do the things that he or she needs to do in
  any important area of life (work, home, family,
  social, spiritual) are the clearest signs that a
  normal reaction after deployment may be turning
  into a more serious problem.
• If longer than 6 8 weeks, medical professional
  consultation necessary to obtain effective
  available treatment.

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Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

• A blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head
  injury that disrupts function of the brain.
• Not all blows to the head result in TBI.
• Previous wars referred to as shell shock.
• Commonly referred to as a concussion.
• TBI is also caused by
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Assaults
• Falls

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TBI Symptoms

• Irritability
• Sleep problems
• Excessive fatigue
• Balance problems
• Ringing in the ears
• Vision change
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Concentration/memory problems

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TBI Severity

• May range from mild to severe
• Mild - a brief change in mental status or
  consciousness.
• Severe - an extended period of unconsciousness or
  amnesia after the injury.
• Encourage your employee to seek medical
  attention.

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What Prevents Some Vets From Seeking Help?

• Embarrassment
• Worries about costs
• Cant get time off from work
• Will it affect my career or military standing?

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What Can Employers Do?

• Meet with Soldier before his/her first day back
  to work.
• Apprise Soldier of changes to their workplace
  e.g., how has job changed, what roles have
  shifted, employee morale.
• Consider graduated schedule for return to work
  offer flexibility.
• If schedule cant be changed, lighten workload to
  allow for readjustment to the job.
• Understand that each Soldier adjusts in his/her
  own way.
• Some may not want to talk about their experiences
  right away.
• May appreciate your concern but not want to feel
  babied or set apart.

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What Can Employers Do? (cont.)

• Listen without judging and advise coworkers to do
  the same.
• Communicate your support for his/her emotional
  well-being.
• Inquire about financial well-being. Consider
  loans, advance pay, or other programs to help
  with financial difficulties.
• Ask if Soldier is interested in welcome home
  party.
• Provide employee with more than one welcome home
  meeting or event.
• Allow Soldier to tell his/her story talking in
  bits and pieces can be helpful.
• Understand resistance to getting help Soldier
  may feel ashamed and view counseling as sign of
  personal weakness.

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What Can Employers Do? (cont.)

• Point out that emotional problems are no
  different from medical problems and must be
  treated like any medical condition (i.e., cough,
  sore throat or sprained or broken ankle).
• Realize Soldiers health affects the health and
  well-being of his/her co-workers.
• ASSUME SUCCESS!
• The majority of vets do not return with emotional
  problems.
• Use employee assistance programs, human
  resources, and veterans services as appropriate.

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Resources

• Vet Centers
• VA Medical Centers
• Military OneSource
• Army Behavioral Health
• Hooah 4 Health
• Mental Health Self-Assessment Program
• Troop and Family Counseling
• TRICARE
• ESGR
• Department of Labor
• State Chaplain, Unit Chaplains and Chaplains
  Assistants
• Maryland Defense Force
• ProBono Counseling

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Vet Centers

• Website va.gov/rcs
• Confidential/free counseling services to
  veterans, families and significant others with
  war and deployment readjustment needs.
• Individual and group sessions.
• Counselors are trained to work with vets.
• Many counselors are vets themselves.
• Locations
• Baltimore
• Silver Spring
• Elkton
• Hagerstown
• Washington, DC
• West Virginia Martinsburg

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VA Medical Centers

• Website va.gov
• OIF/OEF vets receive two years of free medical
  care from date of separation from active duty.
• Vet must enroll first no charge, no obligation.
• Maryland and surrounding area
• Baltimore
• Perry Point
• Washington, DC
• Martinsburg, WVA
• RVOEC Team (Returning Vets Outreach, Education
  and Care) dedicated to OIF/OEF vets.

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Military OneSource

• Website militaryonesource.com
• Department of Defense (DoD) program free to
  Soldiers and their families.
• Available 24/7/365 800.342.9647.
• Confidential/free counseling services.
• Soldier or family member calls 800.342.9647 for
  referral to counseling services in Soldiers
  area.
• Educational materials and interactive website are
  available.

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Army Behavioral Health

• www.behavioralhealth.army.mil
• Resources and information regarding mental
  well-being for Soldiers and their family members.
  
• Provided by the U.S. Army Medical Department.
• Intended for interested Soldiers, family members,
  and the public.

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Hooah 4 Health

• Website hooah4health.com/mind/combatstress/defaul
  t.htm.
• Stress management info.
• Combat stress Q and A.
• Redeployment health guide.

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Mental Health Self-Assessment Program

• Website Militarymentalhealth.org
• DoD mental health self-assessment program.
• Voluntary and anonymous.
• Mental health, alcohol screening and referral
  program for Soldiers and families affected by
  deployment.
• Offered online and by phone.
• Telephone Self-Assessment 877.877.3647.

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Troop and Family Counseling

• Free and confidential counseling services.
• Soldier calls Intake Coordinator 24/7 at
  888.755.9355.
• Soldier receives referral to outpatient provider
  in his area.

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Other Resources

• TRICARE
• Eight free confidential behavioral health care
  visits.
• 877.874.2273 / www.healthnetfederalservices.com.
• ESGR
• William Hensel - 410.234.3809/william.hensel_at_mdbal
  t.ang.af.mil
• Transition Assistance Advisor Mark H. L Olandoff
• Maryland Defense Force
• Mental Health Corps
• Chaplains Corps
• MDNG State Chaplain
• COL Sean Lee
• Unit Chaplains and Chaplain Assistants
• ProBono Counseling
• Department of Labor -410.767-2110/Stan Seidel

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• Questions?