Summer 2006
As deployments grow longer and more frequent, thousands of servicemembers and their families are tapping into the Department of Defense's vast family assistance counseling network, says Barbara Thompson, director of the DoD's Office of Family Policy.
Non-medical counseling - from educational and outreach sessions to individual, group and marriage counseling with trained social workers, all emphasizing problem solving and communications skills - often provides crucial help, says Thompson. Services extend beyond active duty servicemembers to include National Guard and reserve members not on active duty.
The National Mental Health Association has identified various symptoms of excessive stress, such as difficulty completing tasks and making decisions; fear and anxiety about the future; apathy; irritability and anger; sadness and depression; extreme hunger or lack of appetite; headaches or stomach pains; sleeping difficulties; and excessive drinking or drug use.
Everyone experiences stress differently, but many of these are "normal reactions to difficult circumstances," according to Thompson. The goal of DoD counseling programs, she says, is to address these issues before they escalate.
Thompson emphasizes that the programs supplement rather than replace the military's traditional network of unit leaders, chaplains, child development centers and family support centers.
Families interested in the programs may obtain a referral from these base service providers or request help directly through Military OneSource, toll-free from the U.S. at 800-342-9647 or overseas at 800-3429-6477.