Transcript Spreading the word of

Warriors on the Home Front
Readjustment of the Modern War Fighter
Mr. Brandon Wardell, MA, NCC, LPC
Director of Psychological Health
Oklahoma National Guard
405-365-0256
SERV
Proprietary and Confidential
The reality

1,861,926 Deployed veterans since 9/11



1,342,272 Active Duty
519,654 Guard/Reserve


257,582 Currently Deployed
Less than 1% of the population have protected the other
99%
288,952 veterans on America’s Campuses today

15% of total available- Less than 1 in 5 attend college!
SERV
Proprietary and Confidential
Total Deployed by State- since December 2008
10,110 8,185
57,109
10,927
5,268
22,738
22,910
10,877
11,405
9,254
29,276
22,058
12,819
68,203 56,988 69,573 38,308
30,044
17,084
35,156
18,165
19,899
53,047
24,513
30,925
11,687
21,107
32,981
5,079
25,049
16,319
6,380
12,101
19,832
52,650 73,279
10,587
162,213 16,426
4,476
14,533
49,179
24,862
43,578
27,635
47,319
233,099
27,856
SERV
Proprietary and Confidential
180,032


Oklahoma As of December 2008
24,513 Total Deployed since 9/11

3,467 Currently Deployed
283
56
95
51
62
59
59
92
70
47
59
60
124
59
450
75
71
216
286
81
116
440
470
237
123
126
326
552
3,288
316
175
215
140
251
453
4,851 175
86
280
1,556 142
264
123
89
112
81
409
55
238 251
73
67 65
260 66
300
138
240
1,731
90
52
330
321
125
76
113 47
99
303
700
63
88
91
194
105
186
YTD Suicides - Cumulative: 2007 - 2010
CY 07
CY 08
CY 09
CY 10
Confirm ed
Pending
59
0
56
0
62
0
59
11
4 Year
Totals
236
11
Total
59
56
62
70
247
0
2007
2008
2009
2010
Rank
3
3
7
14
4
5
9
7
3
3
5
11
Additions:
8
4
4
5
5
7
8
11
State
3
3
2
7
6
4
4
10
Rank
4
6
2
5
Deletions:
4
4
8
5
6
8
Reason
9
4
1
5
7
4
State
Note: As of 27 AUG 2010
Programs / Initiatives
• Parenting Classes (community based)
• Child and Youth camps/programs
• Strong Bond/Prep seminars
• Yellow Ribbon Reintegration events
• State Family Program Directors
• Directors of Psychological Health
• Military Family Life Consultants
• Chaplains
• Peer to Peer Support Programs
• Social Support Networks ( ex
Facebook)
• Behavioral Health Officers
• Community Mental Health
• Tragedy Assistance Program for
Survivors
• Survivor Outreach Services
• Embedded Behavioral Health
• Psychological First Aid (American Red
Cross)
• Comprehensive Soldier Fitness/Master
Resiliency Training/GAT
• MOA with the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration
• Decade of Health “Ready and
Resilient” campaign
Parent-Child
Issues
Partner
Issues
Loss of
Significant
Relationship
Recent
Death of
Close
Companion
Discord
w/Nonfamily
N
N
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
N
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
N
N
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
Y
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
Y
NS
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
NS
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
N
N
Y
N
N
Y
N
N
Y
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
Recent
No Primary
Antisocial Divorce/Sepe Isolation
Support
ration
Y
N
N
Y
N
N
NS
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
N
These indicators were clearly present (Y) , not present (N) or undetermined (NS) in the suicide investigation
Programs / Initiatives
• Education Support Center (PEC)
• GI Bill (Vocational /apprenticeship
programs)
• Tuition Assistance
• Certification Exams
• “Get an ‘A’ “ initiative
• “Drive the Guard” initiative
• Employment Partnership Initiative
• “Serve” employment initiative
• Virtual career fairs
• College fairs
• Army Spouse Employment Program
School
Job
Academic School DropJob
Insufficient Unemployme Deployment
Dissatisfactio
Dissatisfactio
Problems
out
Uncertainty
Income nt / Job Loss Uncertainty
n / Discord
n / Discord
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
Y
N
N
N
NS
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
N
Y
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
NS
N
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
Y
N
Y
NS
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
NS
N
N
NS
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
NS
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
NS
N
N
NS
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
N
Y
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
NS
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
These indicators were clearly present (Y) , not present (N) or undetermined (NS) in the suicide investigation
Programs / Initiatives
Past BH
Suicidal
Treatment Ideations
• Directors of Psychological Health
• Crisis Intervention Teams
• Family Readiness Groups
• Family Education (ex. Suicide Prevention for
Families CHPPM)
• Home Front Video
• Employer Education (ESGR/HRSM)
• Military Family Life Consultants
• Chaplains
• Peer to Peer Support Programs
• Social Support Networks ( ex Facebook)
• Behavioral Health Officers
• Community Mental Health
• Military One Source (12 sessions per issue)
• “Give an Hour”
• Case Managers
• PDHRA Program Managers
• Suicide Prevention Program Managers
• Psychological First Aid (American Red
Cross)
• MOA with the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration
• For veterans – VA and Vet Centers
• Telebehavioral Health Pilot
• Substance Abuse Testing
N
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
N
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
N
Y
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
Y
Prior
Suicide
Attempt
N
Y
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
NS
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
NS
N
Substance
Hypervigili
Abuse /
Alcohol Mood/Anxi Personality
ant
Positive
Problems ety Issues Problems
Behaviors
Test
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
NS
N
N
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
N
Y
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
Y
PTSD
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
NS
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
These indicators were clearly present (Y) , not present (N) or undetermined (NS) in the suicide investigation
Common Themes






Majority are young, white male Soldiers in their first terms of service.
NOTE: There has been an increase in RSP cases.
Of those deployed, the incident occurs over one year post-deployment.
Behavioral health issues are not being identified on PDHAs/PDHRAs
NOTE: If issues are identified, Soldiers are allowed to refuse care.
Majority choose a permanent life-ending method: a firearm.
Majority had a substance abuse issue: predominantly alcohol consumption,
as alcohol tends to be the tool to overcome inhibitions.
Majority had significant relationship issues: fighting with significant other,
break-up, or socially withdrawn from others





Majority had some form of financial/occupational problem: credit, paying
bills, and/or lack of employment.
Suicidal ideations are typically unknown to others.
Not one suicide has been known to have a strong social or spiritual base.
Leaders and units are struggling to identify Soldiers in need of help, and if
they do know, they are not tracking them until treatment completion.
People who are close to the Soldiers—family members, co-workers, friends,
and other Soldiers—are recognizing a downward spiral, but opt to not do
anything for fear of getting the Soldier into trouble in remaining in the
ARNG, or because they do not deem they have the skillset to support the
Soldier.
Who is the new Veteran- Age

Average Deployed Age

Age 17-19




13.0%
18-22



18.6%
25-29


44.1%
22-24

20.5%
Age 30-34


36.9%
Age 25-29

Average Campus Age
4.5%
Age 20-24


12.4%
30 and over

25%
57.4% of all OEF/OIF vets are between 20 and 29
31.0% of all college students are between 22 and 29
Majority of vets are older than the majority of Campus population
Two types of veterans

Active Duty

Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard



They come back home individually
Harder to find in the general population
National Guard/Reserve

They come home as a unit



Easier to address them when they come home
Guard Has ‘briefings’ every 30,60 and 90 days
Military sponsored


Easier to address many at one time as a group
Difficult for a campus to get into these briefings

Very little time during these weekend events
SERV
Proprietary and Confidential
Characteristics of Marital Status

More than ½ of all deployed are married (similar to WW II)


Civilian/campus adjustment as well as family
Many Spouses are ready to start a family


SERV classes will fit with this demographic


Waited for 4 years
They can counsel each other with family pressures
Nearly 2/3 of all female deployed vets are single


May need to rely upon family for support
Hard to adjust to civilian male population


May feel more alienated than single male population
May not want SERV classes, but they may need SERV classes
Characteristics of Multiple Deployments

One Deployment may be enough

Reliance among each other


Friendship bonds are very strong


Miss the feeling of the ‘military unit’
Succeeded in finishing the mission


Camaraderie very high
Daily accomplishments, positive reinforcement
Multiple Deployments take a toll


Difficulty increases in transition
Preparation in going back the 2nd, 3rd time

May need more time to transition, more VA counseling
Who is the new veteran- Race

Caucasian (61.9%)


African American (13.2%)


188,366 total deployed
American Indian/Native American (1.0%)


248,913 total deployed
Hispanic (10.0%)


1,165,249 total deployed
19,674 total deployed
Asian/Pacific Islander (2.8%)

52,404
Characteristics of Race/Gender

Do not have data on 1st generation college

Hispanic, African & Native American, Asian/Pacific Islander

509,357 total for all, 32% of total deployed

Allow 2/3 of Minorities to be 1st generation college


1,061,206 Caucasian Total Deployed (68%)

Allow 40% to be 1st Generation College


341,269 could be 1st generation ( 21.7% of total)
424,482 could be 1st generation, 27.0% of total
For the 462 potential on East Central Campus

225 Potential 1st generation college students

48.7% of total on campus
Post-Combat Readjustment
What the Soldier Brings Home
• Heightened sensory awareness of sights, sounds & smells.
• Identification and closeness with their military unit
• Regimentation into highly structured and efficient routines.
•
Reconnecting with friends more difficult than expected.

Difficulties arise in trying to generate a “new normal”

Life at home/campus may not have the edge and adrenaline
associated with wartime duty
Edgardo Padin-Rivera, Ph.D. Chair,
PTSDProprietary
Experts
Workgroup Ohio VA Health Care Network
SERV
and Confidential
Chief, Psychology Service Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
Post-Combat Readjustment-Campus

Military

High level of order





Commanding Officer (CO) has
all the answers,
Day is planned by someone
else


Daily Critical Choices

SERV
English homework is not ‘life or
death’
No Daily critical choices

Life and death decisions-literally
Have to plan out their own day
Have to be their own ‘CO’
Less Responsibilities on campus

Millions of dollars of equipment
Lives dependent upon them


Much less order in life/campus


Great Responsibilities

Civilian-
Do I go to class or not

Proprietary and Confidential
Who is impacted?
How the pre-military veteran thinks

Why the signed up

Majority of the 1,861,926 post 9-11 vets enlisted for 2 reasons

They wanted to do something when we were attacked on 9/11


Small town USA women and men wanting to protect their families &
neighbors
Didn’t know what to do when the graduated from High School

They knew they weren’t ready for college…but… what else is there to do?

This is significant because they did not want to try something (College)
that they felt they were not ready for

This shows the maturity of the veteran.
How the post-military veteran thinks

Where do they go from here?

Majority of the 1,861,926 post 9-11 veterans enlisted for life


They wanted to be in for 20yrs
After 3-4 years, politics of the military made them leave



This is troubling, because the military gave them security

Always had your day planned, knew who was in charge
Difficult to leave the women and men in their unit

They trusted each other with their lives

Friendship and trust not found in civilian world
Now what to do with the rest of their lives?

Who can they trust?; Who can they depend upon?

Veterans are very cautious of civilians because of this experience
What the post military veteran is exposed to

Civilian World
 Much Less Order

Day is not planned by someone else


People/organizations wanting to help

Vets are over-whelmed by ‘do gooders’



Those who want to ‘Help the Soldiers’ because it makes them feel good to do so.
They are cautious of those organizations who want to take their GI Bill money to
become ‘locksmiths’ or other quick easy certificates
Family and loved ones
 Pressure to go to college because they promised their families

Parents bought into the military choice; ‘money for college’


No daily ‘mission’, no daily recognition of ‘mission accomplished’
Not sure if they can handle college after many years out of high school
No one else understands them except for other OEF/OIF veterans
Now, How to reach them

What not to do

Hold a ‘veteran fair’


Flooding the area for a small % of the
population
Based on what they have seen while
in Iraq
Mass e-mails or letters

Reach them on a 1 on 1 basis


Eliminate fear of mass of people
Use military friendly media/events


Don’t believe the media



Parades, Military Times, etc
Costly


Lots of people = suicide bomber
Use Mass media approach

What to do
Vets call them ‘loser fairs’



Will ignore the e-mails
Place the letters in the ‘Do gooder’
pile

Reach the parents of vets

Parent support groups

‘THE’ Brochure
Use other OEF/OIF on your campus to
accompany you


Have local VA get the word out


Vets will believe other vets
They come into contact everyday with
OEF/OIF vets
Use National Guard 360 briefings

Can reach guard troops as a group
Most Important, how many in our area, how many can we reach?