Collaborative intervention: A model for coordinated treatment of mental health issues within a ground combat unit

Abstract

Involvement in combat imposes a psychological burden that affects all combatants, not only those who are vulnerable to emotional disorders or those who sustain physical wound distress. This burden of combat is also carried by the families of those who go to war. Although most ground combat units have a medical officer as well as a chaplain assigned to them, they do not have a mental health counselor or psychologist. Traditionally, the medical officer focuses on the treatment of physical symptoms, diseases, and physical injuries, whereas the chaplain treats spiritual and adjustment issues that may affect how well an individual service member functions personally and/or professionally. Located between these two points is a void, the treatment of psychological or emotional issues. By using the collaborative intervention model presented here, unit medical officers and chaplains can work together to treat these issues, thus reducing the number of service members needing referral to mental health agencies, decreasing the number of mental health-related medical separations, and increasing overall mission readiness. This article presents a model whereby medical officers and chaplains can enter this void together, treating these emotional issues collaboratively. Reprint & Copyright © by Association of Military Surgeons of U.S., 2008.