OPERATION WELCOME HOME

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OPERATION WELCOME HOME
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A National PerspectiveThe Campaign for Mental
Health Reform

• A Road map for Federal Action on Americas Mental
  Health Crisis

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Roadmap for Federal Action on Americas Mental
Health Crisis

• A veteran returning today from Operations Iraqi
  Freedom or Enduring Freedom, who suffers from
  depression and suicidal ideation related to
  deployment, will find the availability of
  appropriate evidence-based care is haphazard and
  spotty.
• --- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Task
  Force on Mental Health, March 11, 2004

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Action Items

• Address the mental health needs of returning
  veterans and their families
• Provide early identification and effective
  treatment for returning veterans at risk of
  post-traumatic stress disorder and their families
• Provide effective mental health and substance
  abuse treatment and services to veterans

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Roadmap for Federal Action on Americas Mental
Health Crisis

• The nation has a moral obligation to its
  veterans to ensure that their mental health needs
  are fully and immediately addressed, a task that
  is further compromised by the inadequacy of the
  nations overall mental health system.

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OPERATION WELCOME HOME

• A NH Program Providing Support for Returning
  Veterans their Families

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Background

• Initially NH Guard had a different thought
  process
• RR leave began to show some difficulties
• Needed to learn more about combat experience
  reentry
• Held workshop of experts including 82nd
  Airborne, Marines, Navy, etc.

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CONSEQUENCES

• Increase in
• divorce rate
• alcohol abuse
• drug abuse
• spousal abuse
• child abuse
• suicide
• vehicle accidents/death

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• 3 to 5 diagnosed with PTSD leaving theater
• 30 had problems ranging from depression to
  full-blown PTSD.
• Problems are sometimes more acute in members of
  the National Guard who return to a civilian job
  when they leave active duty.
• LTG Kevin Kiley Armys Surgeon General staff
• July 2005 (3-6 months after returning from
  combat)
• Source USA Today July 28, 2005

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OUTCOME

• Build a comprehensive model for
• re-entry and reunion, so no warrior was left
  behind.

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Governor Lynch Establishes Operation Welcome
Home

• State-wide Collaborative Effort Involving
• National Guard
• DHHS
• Human Resources
• Bureau of Behavioral Health
• Division for Children, Youth Families
• Disaster Behavioral Health Response Team
• Department of Corrections
• American Red Cross
• State Employee Assistance Program

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Operation Welcome Home GOALS

• Community Awareness
• State-wide outreach to Natural Helper
• Resources Directory by Community
• Expert support of Family Reentry Workshops
• Outreach to Employers

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High Risk Population

• Approximately 144,000 Reservists are currently
  deployed overseas
• Translates into over a million key family members
  directly affected.
• Those in COMBAT - High Risk Population not seen
  since Vietnam

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Preliminary Results

• 824 soldiers screened (Iraq and Afghanistan)
• 365 asked for 30 day follow-up
• 102 had 3 or more contacts
• 459 asked not to be contacted
• 69 have made contact with Vet Center
• Total 171 (21) returning soldiers have had
  significant contact with Vet Centers beyond the
  screening
• Number of visits (at this point) range from 3 to
  36
• 1553 total visits of all kinds (individual,
  family) to date includes the initial screening
• Preliminary results show a clear relationship
  between exposure to combat stressors and seeking
  help

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Reasons for Collaboration

• Over 1,000 NH NG troops deployed
• Unique needs of NG vs full-time military
• Lack of knowledge by family and community as to
  how to support returning soldier
• Lack of existing behavioral health resources to
  meet anticipated needs

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Disaster Behavioral Health Response

• SAMHSA - Capacity Enhancement Grant
• 550 DBHRT Volunteers
• Services Available/Responses to Actual Events
• Planning,Training and Drills
• Activation and Response Protocols

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Use of DBHRT for OWH

• Unanticipated
• Prevention not Crisis Related
• Able to Separate War From the Warrior
• Develop Relationship for Future Events
• Process of DBHRT Involvement

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Reunion Re-Integration Workshops

• Reentry into Family Life
• Signs and Symptoms of PTSD
• Suicide Awareness
• Reunion Re-Integration Process
• Unit Situation Brief
• Child Focus into Family Life

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Reunion Re-Integration Presenters

• Chaplains Office
• Family Assistance Center Staff
• Vet Center Expert on PTSD
• DBHRT-children
• UNH-Operation Military Kids

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National Guard Forum at ICISF World Congress
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Resource Directory

• DBHRT team members
• Options for troops and families
• 24 hour emergency numbers
• Available online

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Natural Helpers

• 3 regional workshops
• Promotion strategies
• Outreach to 10,000 Natural Helpers
• Attendees -260
• Target audience

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Natural Helpers

• Welcome panel
• PTSD reframe
• Small group discussions
• Participant evaluations

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Other Opportunities

• Purple Camp
• Katrina
• Alstead flooding
• Supporting Chaplain efforts

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Looking Ahead.

• In times of disaster, NHNG and state mental
  health authority will be involved
• Positive relationship already exists
• Future involvement in drills
• Children of NG troops in school settings
• A changing worldpandemic flu, national and local
  natural disasters, terrorism

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How to Make it Happen

• Governors leadership
• Leadership buy in-between Key State agencies
  National Guard
• Form a working committee
• Involvement of behavioral health resources
• Persistence and patience.

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Contact Information

• Col. Deborah Carter-[phone]
  deborah.carter_at_nh.ngb.army.mil
• Geoff Souther- [phone] Gsouther_at_dhhs.state.
  nh.us
• Paul Deignan- [phone] x 4173
  pdeignan_at_nhoem.state.nh.us
• Fred White- [phone]
• WhiteF_at_ccofnashua.org

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Web Sites

• www.TLCinstitute.org
• www.APAHelpCenter.org
• www.militaryfamily.com
• www.nctsnet.org
• www.nhoem.state.nh.us
• www.ncptsd.org/topics/war.html
• www.aacap.org
• http//www.ncptsd.va.gov/topics/veterans