An Phenomenological Study Exploring the Experiences of Active-duty Servicemembers Seeking Mental Health Treatment

An Phenomenological Study Exploring the Experiences of Active-duty Servicemembers Seeking Mental Health Treatment PDF Author: Philip Clinton Allen
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Medicine, Military
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the experiences of active-duty servicemembers regarding mental health stigma and help-seeking behavior. Due to the trauma of intense combat, military servicemembers experience mental health problems at an alarming rate, and despite increased awareness and access to mental health resources, they are still reluctant to seek treatment. This study explored the lived experiences of military servicemembers with an aim to address the following research question: “How do military service members experience overcoming mental health stigma and decide to seek treatment while still on active duty?” Thirteen participants from the United States Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps were administered interviews inquiring into their experiences with mental health via Zoom and phone. Themes emerged in two categories: “Stigma” and “Overcoming Stigma.” The associations of common themes between the two categories that included 50% or more of the 13 participants are presented. The three strongest themes participants recounted as factors that led to deciding to seek mental health services were the realization that professional help is needed to address mental health concerns, personal growth in deciding to seek mental health services and trust in others. Because of the intrinsic motivational nature of these factors, the researcher concluded that overcoming stigma is unteachable. However, there are practical ways to reduce external stigma in the military, including educating military leaders, servicemembers, and family members about mental health and the need for treatment if warranted.

An Phenomenological Study Exploring the Experiences of Active-duty Servicemembers Seeking Mental Health Treatment

An Phenomenological Study Exploring the Experiences of Active-duty Servicemembers Seeking Mental Health Treatment PDF Author: Philip Clinton Allen
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Medicine, Military
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the experiences of active-duty servicemembers regarding mental health stigma and help-seeking behavior. Due to the trauma of intense combat, military servicemembers experience mental health problems at an alarming rate, and despite increased awareness and access to mental health resources, they are still reluctant to seek treatment. This study explored the lived experiences of military servicemembers with an aim to address the following research question: “How do military service members experience overcoming mental health stigma and decide to seek treatment while still on active duty?” Thirteen participants from the United States Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps were administered interviews inquiring into their experiences with mental health via Zoom and phone. Themes emerged in two categories: “Stigma” and “Overcoming Stigma.” The associations of common themes between the two categories that included 50% or more of the 13 participants are presented. The three strongest themes participants recounted as factors that led to deciding to seek mental health services were the realization that professional help is needed to address mental health concerns, personal growth in deciding to seek mental health services and trust in others. Because of the intrinsic motivational nature of these factors, the researcher concluded that overcoming stigma is unteachable. However, there are practical ways to reduce external stigma in the military, including educating military leaders, servicemembers, and family members about mental health and the need for treatment if warranted.

Willingness to Seek Mental Health Treatment: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Female Military Service Members’ Experiences Following a Self-Perceived Mental Health Concern

Willingness to Seek Mental Health Treatment: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Female Military Service Members’ Experiences Following a Self-Perceived Mental Health Concern PDF Author: Ashley M Griffith
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 149

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Book Description
Background: Women comprise a growing proportion of the United States Armed Forces; yet, their unique experiences related to seeking mental health treatment have largely gone unexplored in the literature. While women experience higher rates of mental health disorders and seek treatment more frequently, they have conveyed unique concerns related to their decisions to utilize mental health treatment. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the shared, lived experience of female activity duty service members' willingness to seek mental health treatment and the factors that influenced their willingness, in the military mental health care system, following a self-perceived mental health concern. Methods: I conducted in-depth, open-ended interviews with seven, purposively sampled individuals ranging in age from 22 to 50 years old for a total of 14 interviews. Each participant reported she had served on active duty since 2008 and had experienced a self-perceived, mental health concern during that time. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Military Stigma Scale, and two separate interviews. All interviews were transcribed and then analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis with a social constructivism framework. Results: Three main themes were identified as contributing to the willingness to utilize mental health treatment: organizational factors, other individuals' experiences, and personal experiences. Within each theme, participants expanded upon the influence of the messages received at differing levels, as well as the interactions with others regarding mental health treatment. These themes emphasized the influence of the social context in which these decisions are made. Discussion: Overall, female service members perceive that the military has made positive changes, which provide greater opportunity and support for treating mental health concerns. However, if service members continue to not seek services, we must work to understand what is continuing to prevent those actions and encourage treatment seeking behaviors. In our sample of service women, concerns about career repercussions and pervasive negative views of women were especially salient barriers. Continuing to ask service members what factors influence their decision to seek treatment, finding ways to improve perceptions of female service members, and increasing the transparency of the mental health treatment process and impacts could further increase rates of treatment seeking.

Phenomenological Study of how Student Service Members and Veterans with Mental Health Disorders Describe Their Academic Experience in Higher Education

Phenomenological Study of how Student Service Members and Veterans with Mental Health Disorders Describe Their Academic Experience in Higher Education PDF Author: Dustin Harris
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Anxiety
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the essence of the experiences of 13 student service members and veterans (SSM/V) with a mental health disorder (MHD) living in California. For this study, SSM/V is defined as active service members currently enrolled in higher education, both online and traditional, with a DSM 5 Veteran Affairs (VA) disability rating. The person-centered and existential (PC/E) theories were the two theories that guided this study. Data collection occurred through in-depth interviews, focus groups, and writing prompts. The study sought to answer the central research question (CQ): How do SSM/V with a MHD living in California describe their higher educational experience? A transcendental phenomenological analysis was drawn upon to reveal four significant themes. The four themes in the study included: Strong Support Networks Were Important for Overcoming the Challenges of Higher Education, Anxiety and Depressive Disorders are Perceived as Having the Highest Prevalence, MHD Symptoms Can Hurt Academic Performance, and Academic Challenges Can Increase MHD Symptoms, and Support Services Tailored for a Military Population Are Needed But Lacking. In addition to the study findings, limitations, implications for stakeholders, and recommendations for future research are presented.

Veteran and Military Mental Health

Veteran and Military Mental Health PDF Author: Christopher H. Warner
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3031180097
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 445

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Book Description
This book addresses mental health treatment for veterans and active military personnel. In addition to examining foundational practices in the sub-field, it contains specifically tailored content concerning the recent collapse of the United States (US) installed Afghanistan government. The book is conscious of the myriad of complex emotions that veterans who fought for the past twenty years may be experiencing. Organized into four parts, the book begins with the foundations of veteran and military mental health culture as patients transition from active duty to veteran status, understand the present stigma and barriers to care and reflect on their deployment experience. Part two delves into the specifics of the healthcare system in which military personnel find themselves at various points in their career, including deployment and returning home. Following this, chapters examine the critically unique conditions found in patients, such as sleep disorders, traumatic brain injury, homelessness, substance abuse, and sexual trauma. The book closes with discussions on veterans and their families that focus on the effects of deployment on a military person’s loved ones and their mental state upon returning home. Timely, socially conscious, and comprehensive, the Clinical Manual on Veteran and Military Mental Health is an invaluable resource for mental health professionals receiving new military personnel patients and who have seen a significant shift in their patients due to recent events.

Exploring Cultural Influences and Moral Experiences Behind Mental Illness Stigma in the U.S. Army

Exploring Cultural Influences and Moral Experiences Behind Mental Illness Stigma in the U.S. Army PDF Author: Jessica R. Handloff
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Mental illness
Languages : en
Pages : 64

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Book Description
During recent conflicts in which the United States military is engaged, research exposed the high number of conflict veterans suffering from behavioral health problems. Existing research primarily focuses on the individual psychological processes of those suffering from mental disorders and the perceived barriers to care, the most salient of which is fear of stigmatization (Hoge et al. 2004, Ouimette et al. 2011). In order to explore mental illness stigma from the unique perspective of U.S. military service members, data were collected during semi-structured interviews with ten active duty U.S. Army officers and nine East Carolina University Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) cadets. Personal semantic analysis and narrative analysis revealed that army officers demonstrate strong cognitive links between physical fitness and behavioral health. They also experience an acute awareness of top-down pressure regarding job performance leading to fear of mental illness affecting accomplishment of duties and tasks. It is contradictory that the unwillingness to seek professional treatment coincides with the expressed need to support and encourage others to do so.

The Effectiveness of Outdoor Therapy with Military Veterans

The Effectiveness of Outdoor Therapy with Military Veterans PDF Author: Raina Nareg
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
ABSTRACT Objective: This study explores an understudied area of outdoor therapy, an alternative therapeutic model for addressing mental health with military veterans. It includes the perspectives of outdoor therapy participants to inform the research findings. Method: A phenomenological approach inquired veteran perspectives of mental health recovery and outdoor therapy. A gender-based analysis uncovered themes regarding hypermasculinity within military culture. Interview questions explored experiences with Warrior Adventures Canada (WAC), the efficacy of outdoor therapy, and military culture. The study also evaluated responses to program evaluations completed by past WAC participants. Results: The findings indicate positive improvements to mental health and mental resiliency. These interviews highlight the cultural nuances and gendered differences within the military, which can influence mental health deterioration. Conclusion: Qualitative data suggests beneficial aspects for mental health recovery not typically found within mainstream trauma-focused approaches, relating to the comfort, safety and trust innately found in the program of WAC.

Factors Preventing Active Duty Service Members from Utilizing Mental Health Services

Factors Preventing Active Duty Service Members from Utilizing Mental Health Services PDF Author: Suzanne Simmons
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Despite mental health resources being available to active duty military members, there continues to be a significant mental health crisis related to military service. Efforts have been made to identify mental health issues and expand resources available to service members and veterans. Following the changes, only one half of service members identified as having mental health issues seek mental health services and a mere on half of those complete treatment. The VA reports those seeking mental health services continue to have a high suicidality indicating even these individuals are not receiving enough assistance (US Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VA), n.d.). A common explanation for lack of psychiatric utilization has historically been stigma. This research is to identify other factors, specific to military culture, which are impeding appropriate treatment for active military personnel. The military has implemented measures to help reduce stigma, and implement education and policies to help increase utilization of mental health services, however there remains a deficit which continues to put our present and former military at risk. The purpose of this study is to identify and examine the relationship between the variables of command climate, warrior ethos, mental health literacy, stigma, and career consequences to active duty military utilizing mental health services.

Treating Active-duty Military Members

Treating Active-duty Military Members PDF Author: Leah Lawson
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Adjustment disorders
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Due to varying service experiences, active-duty service members endure military related stressors in addition to everyday life stressors. As a result, their risk of mental illness onset increases. Considering that many of the stressors and events are unique to military personnel, it is important to identify best-practice interventions for working with this population opposed to employing civilian best practices. The purpose of this study was to determine what treatment interventions are best-practice when working with active-duty military members diagnosed with the three most common mental disorders (e.g., adjustment disorder, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders) across the Department of Defense (DoD). This study employed a narrative systematic review methodology. Selected studies were assessed by the Quality of Study Rating Form (QSRF). Based on the QSRF and the findings of the selected research, this study draws conclusions pertaining to what are or may be considered best-practice interventions for the treatment of the diagnoses under study. Ultimately, after searching through multiple databases with varying search term combinations and with the assistance of an experienced published researcher Dr. Alan Lipps, zero eligible studies were identified. This finding implies that no researchers have conducted a treatment focused study with active-duty military members diagnosed with any of the DoD’s three most prevalent mental illnesses in the last eleven years. This finding is highly troubling and potentially problematic for the military mental health system. Mental health professionals should turn their attention to the active-duty population and conduct treatment focused literature on these prevalent disorders to better serve the mental health needs of active-duty service members.

A Phenomenological Study of Former Service Member Experiences Undergoing Military-based Therapy

A Phenomenological Study of Former Service Member Experiences Undergoing Military-based Therapy PDF Author: Gabriel Hubbard
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 187

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Book Description


Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy: A Therapist's Guide to Creating Acceptance and Change, Second Edition

Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy: A Therapist's Guide to Creating Acceptance and Change, Second Edition PDF Author: Andrew Christensen
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
ISBN: 0393713644
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 416

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Book Description
The definitive therapist manual for Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT)—one of the most empirically supported approaches to couple therapy. Andrew Christensen, codeveloper (along with the late Neil Jacobson) of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy, and Brian Doss provide an essential manual for their evidence-based practice. The authors offer guidance on formulation, assessment, and feedback of couples’ distress from an IBCT perspective. They also detail techniques to achieve acceptance and deliberate change. In this updated edition of the work, readers learn about innovations to the IBCT approach in the 20+ years since the publication of the original edition—including refinements of core therapeutic techniques. Additionally, this edition provides new guidance on working with diverse couples, complex clinical issues, and integrating technology into a course of treatment.