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Mental Health – Training Resources

Online Learning for Health Professionals

Military Cultural Competence introduces you to the military world.
Topics cover military structure, ranks and insignia, common stressors, demographic characteristics and deployment-related terminology.

At the end of the course, you will be able to:

  • Explain the military rank structure and organization and distinguish the primary mission and core values of each branch of service.
  • Describe differences and similarities between Active and Reserve components.
  • Discuss demographic characteristics of service members.
  • Recognize general and deployment related military terms.

Working with Service Members and Veterans with PTSD delves into the psychiatric syndrome that can develop following exposure to trauma. The course begins with an introduction that covers the Civil War and follows up to present day.  It is broken into five sections that include lessons on Prevalence of Trauma and Development of PTSD, Trauma Exposure and Emotional Reactions During OIF/OEF Deployments, Assessing PTSD and Common Co-morbidities and Treatment of PTSD.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

  • Describe the prevalence of trauma and PTSD as well as factors that contribute to the development of PTSD.
  • Recognize types of trauma exposure and emotional reactions for OIF/OEF veterans.
  • Identify validated assessment tools for PTSD.
  • Explain empirically-based treatments and barriers to care for service members/veterans with PTSD.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy for the Treatment of PTSD reviews one of the most effective treatments for individuals who have PTSD, “Prolonged Exposure Therapy” (PE). This workshop is an introduction to PE and provides a brief overview of techniques and procedures. This course is not intended to replace the in-depth training needed to employ this treatment. More information on how to obtain thorough training, in person or through self-study, is available at the end of the course.

After completing this course you will be able to:
Discuss the theoretical underpinnings for Prolonged Exposure Therapy.

  • Summarize the empirical support for this evidence-based treatment.
  • Describe therapy procedures to include in-vivo and imaginal exposure and explain the general course of treatment protocol.

•    The U.S. Department of Defense Military Health System http://www.humana-military.com/south/provider/tools-resources/dod-online-learning.asp offers a series of courses on PTSD to civilian providers (see courses offered under Agencies).

•    The National Center for PTSD http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/ptsd101/course-modules/course-modules.asp offers a course on PTSD (see Agencies for detailed information).

•    The Center for Deployment Psychology offers a course on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders http://deploymentpsych.org/training/training-catalog/epidemiology-of-ptsd-in-military-personnel-and-veterans-working-with-service-members-and-veterans-with-ptsd, along with 7 associated courses.

 

Case Management for Concussion/ Mild Traumatic Brain Injury  Guidance Document and Fact Sheet

Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD in Veterans and Military Personnel is a course designed to introduce students to this evidence-based, short-term treatment for PTSD. The Cognitive Processing Therapy protocol may be used for both individuals and groups. Currently, this course is not intended to replace the in-depth training needed to employ this treatment. More information on how to obtain thorough training, in person or through self-study, is available at the end of the course.

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Describe the psychological theories behind CPT.
  • Summarize the empirical evidence for CPT’s effectiveness.
  • Give an overview of the CPT protocol.

Two-week Courses:  The Center for Deployment Psychology offers free intensive courses—Topics in Deployment Psychology—four to six times per year. These courses cover topics military mental health professionals actively providing care find important and helpful. Attendees include active duty, reserve and civilian behavioral health professionals and other professionals in training.  For information on training schedules, locations and registration, visit the CDP training Web site.  Topics include:

  • Deployment 101: Examines the deployment cycle with attention to the unique culture, expectations and experience of military deployment including the reintegration with family and community upon return.
  • Trauma and Resilience: Addresses issues of psychological trauma and resilience particular to the experience of combat deployment. This section also includes information pertaining to the assessment and treatment of PTSD and other problematic responses to trauma.
  • Behavioral Health Care of the Seriously Medically Injured: Participants are introduced to issues that arise when providing behavioral health care to individuals suffering from serious medical injuries and traumatic brain injury.
  • Deployment and Families: Explores the unique impact of military deployment on family members including children.

o  Workshops:  The Center offers workshops (http://deploymentpsych.org/training/workshops) on three topics:

  • Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) http://deploymentpsych.org/training/workshops/pe; this two-day workshop utilizes the manual, Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD – Therapist Guide,    by Foa et al., 2007.  Courses 105 and 106 are recommended prerequisites.
  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)http://deploymentpsych.org/training/workshops/cpt; this two-day workshop utilizes the manual, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Veteran/Military Version – Therapist’s Manual by Resick et al., 2008
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTI)http://deploymentpsych.org/training/workshops/cbti; this two-to-three day workshop addresses sleep and sleep disorders and includes cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, imagery rehearsal therapy for nightmares, treatments for sleep disordered breathing, and pharmacotherapy for insomnia and nightmares.

National Center for PTSD, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:
The National Center for PTSD http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/ptsd101/course-modules/course-modules.asp offers the following free online courses (courses marked with a CE are eligible for continuing education credits):

Background and Assessment
Assessment (CE)
Epidemiology of PTSD
What is PTSD? (CE)
Treatment
Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapies (CE)
Couples and PTSD
Cross-Cultural Considerations (CE)
Group Therapy (CE)
Increasing Effectiveness of PTSD Treatments
Overcoming Barriers (CE)
Pharmacological Treatment (CE)
Smoking Cessation
Substance Abuse (CE)
VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline (CE)
Specific Trauma
Combat Stress Injuries (CE)
Military Sexual Trauma (CE)
Traumatic Brain Injury (CE) (This website, PTSD 101:  Windows to the Brain:  Neuropsychiatry of TBI http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/ptsd101/course-modules/traumatic-brain-injury.asp; this free online courses consists of four modules; 1 hour of CEUs is available from the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the American Psychological Association, and the Association of Social Work Boards.  A Certificate of Completion is available for printing once the final evaluation is submitted.)
Special Populations
African-American Veterans (CE)
Asian American & Pacific Islander Veterans (CE)
Hispanic Veterans (CE)
Military Culture
Older Veterans (CE)
General Healthcare
Physical Health Effects (CE)

Military Sexual Trauma

Battered Women’s Justice Project
Provides technical assistance, resources, and support for all advocates, military and civilian, who serve military and veteran families and work with victims of domestic violence/sexual assault/stalking and dating violence perpetrated by military personnel or veterans.

Coast Guard Office of Work-Life Programs – Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program
Find resources and procedure if you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or harassed in the US Coast Guard

Marine Corps Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
Find resources and procedure if you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or harassed in the USMC

Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
Find resources, procedure, and options if you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or harassed in the USAF.

Army Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
Find resources, procedure, and options if you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or harasses in the Army.

The Center for Deployment Psychology offers the course, Sexual Assault in the Military http://deploymentpsych.org/topics-disorders/sexual-assault-in-the-military (see Agencies for detailed information).

VA Employee Education System – Free Continuing Education Classes

 

Suicide Prevention and Intervention:
•    The Center for Deployment Psychology offers the course, Suicide in the Military http://deploymentpsych.org/topics-disorders/suicide (see Agencies for detailed information).

•    U.S. Army ACE (Ask, Care, and Escort) Suicide Intervention Program:  Developed by the U.S. Army, ACE is a 4-hour training that provides Soldiers with the awareness, knowledge and skills necessary to intervene with those at risk for suicide. It includes suicide awareness, warning signs, risk factors and intervention skills development http://www.army.mil/-news/2010/09/01/44579-ace-suicide-prevention-program-wins-national-recognition/.

Health Promotion, Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention – http://www.army.mil/-news/2010/07/28/42934-army-health-promotion-risk-reduction-and-suicide-prevention-report/index.html

During the summer of 2010, the Army released the results of a 15-month study into the service’s growing suicide rate. The 350-page report, “Health Promotion, Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention,” provides new context for the 239 suicides (including reservists) and 1,713 attempted suicides in the Army last year.

US Department of Defense Task Force on the Prevention of Suicide by Members of the Armed Forces – http://www.health.mil/dhb/downloads/Suicide%20Prevention%20Task%20Force%20report%2008-21-10_V4_RLN.pdf
In August 2010, the US Department of Defense Task Force on the Prevention of Suicide by Members of the Armed Forces issued a report that included 13 foundational recommendations based on 76 targeted recommendations across the focus areas of organization and leadership; wellness enhancement and training; access to and delivery of quality care; and surveillance, investigations, and research

Duke Mental Health Webinar 12: Effects of War on Military Families
The Duke AHEC Program in collaboration with the Sandhills Local Management Entity developed an ongoing continuing medical series to address important psychiatric management issues encountered in community mental health settings. The current series is targeted toward psychiatrists and other providers working with seriously mentally ill adults and child in under served regions of the State.
Click here: http://www.aheconnect.com/ahec/cdetail.asp?courseid=duke12 to download the webinar.

The Center for Deployment Psychology offers the course, Military Families and Deployment http://deploymentpsych.org/topics-disorders/military-families-and-deployment, as well as seven related courses (see Agencies for detailed information).

UNC School of Social Work Multimedia
Jodi Flick talks about Chapel Hill’s Survivors of Suicide Loss support group, which helps friends and family members cope with the loss of a loved one.  Dr. Dennis Orthner talks on the affect deployment can have on spouses. The Strong Couples, Strong Children video  is a resource for new parents to  receive guidance and assistance on parenthood and relationships with children and each other.

CPT Web: A web-based learning course for Cognitive Processing Therapy

This site has a particular focus on the treatment of military and combat-related PTSD, although the principles and methods described work well for any type of traumatic event that results in PTSD. This course was developed to complement other methods of clinical learning, such as reading a book or manual or attending a workshop or training course. However, unlike most workshops and manuals, this site includes specific, step-by-step instructions for each component of therapy, printable sample scripts for introducing concepts and techniques to clients, and flash video demonstrations of the therapy procedures conducted by expert clinicians. The web site is also developed so that you can proceed at your own pace and use the learning experiences when it is convenient for you.

For more information on this web based training go to:  http://cpt.musc.edu/index

Treating the Invisible Wounds of War Series: Part 1 – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Description: To build bridges between local community resources and military families, Congress established the National Demonstration Program for Citizen-Soldier Support. Spearheaded by the Odum Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Citizen-Soldier Support Program (CSSP) focuses on all branches of the military and other reserve component members and families.

Click here:  http://www.aheconnect.com/ahec/cdetail.asp?courseid=citizensoldier to register and access the course.

Treating the Invisible Wounds of War Series: Part 3 – Issues of Women Returning from Combat

Description: Women military service members returning from deployment to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan face gender-specific readjustment issues as they transition back to their local communities. This workshop will provide an overview of the health/mental health concerns of women veterans within the context of military culture, gender-specific roles, available support resources and effective treatments.

Click here: http://www.aheconnect.com/ahec/cdetail.asp?courseid=citizensoldier3 to register and access the course.

Military Sexual Trauma:

Description: Clinicians can learn about military sexual trauma from the Military Sexual Trauma Veterans Health Initiative (VHI) online course and study guide. One objective of this online course and study guide is to raise awareness among clinicians of the breadth of issues facing persons who have been sexually assaulted or raped in order to ensure appropriate clinical care

In January 2004, the Veterans Health Initiative of the Department of Veterans Affairs released the independent study course,  http://www.publichealth.va.gov/vethealthinitiative/sexual_trauma.asp

Online Training in CBT Skills for PTSD Treatment: Research Project Launching in September 2009

Useful Training!

  • CEUs
  • Self-paced
  • Interactive
  • Focused on 3 key components of CBT

To be eligible you must be:

  • A Mental Health Clinician
  • A Full time VHA or Vet Center employee
  • A Clinician who treats veterans with PTSD
  • Able to use the web at work or at home
  • Willing to consent to the research study

*Your employement will not be affected in any way regardless of whether or not you participate.
*Your individual information will be kept strictly confidential.

For more information contact:         Project PI:
Donn Garvert                                      Josef Ruzek
Clinical Project Coordinator                 Director, Dissemination and Training Division
National Center for PTSD                    National Center for PTSD
VA Paolo Alto Health Care System      VA Palo Alto Health Care System
donn.garvet@va.gov

For general information about participants rights, contact 866-680-2960 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 866-680-2960 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Visit http://study.neriscience.com/ptsd/intro to sign up.

Treating the Invisible Wounds of War – FREE ONLINE TRAINING!!
www.aheconnect.com/citizensolider
Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in Iraq may seek help from civilian primary care and mental health providers.

This course assists practitioners to provide better care for these patients by understanding the specific needs of returning veterans, their families, and the services available to them.

  • Identify strategies for establishing and maintaining a therapeutic alliance with combat veterans and their families by examining military structure and culture and the combat experience.
  • Examine the current knowledge of trauma and PTSD and how it is unique to military personnel.
  • Identify frames of mental health assessment and treatment options for military personnel.
  • Identify how family relationships are impacted by mobilization, deployment, and redeployment.
  • Identify services available for veterans and their families, including those provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and TRICARE

PAVE – Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment
The Battered Women’s Justice Project is a nationally-recognized partnership and collaboration between the programs of the Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs (formerly Minnesota Program Development, Inc.) and the National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women.

Medal of Honor – http://www.medalofhonorspeakout.org/about
As part of their commitment to serve their country, more than 30 of the 91 living Medal of Honor recipients have joined in a public service campaign designed to help stem the rising tide of suicides among military service members today.  These recipients, who have survived some of the most harrowing experiences in combat, including years as POWs, physical wounds and emotional trauma, felt compelled to speak out to America’s military, share their experiences and encourage them to seek help for behavioral health issues that are often a result of deployment and combat.  Their message is simple:  Don’t let the enemy defeat you at home!  In their own words, Medal of Honor recipients encourage America’s military by reminding them that seeking care is indeed a courageous act. One that shows they recognize the need to stay strong in mind and body.

PTSD 101
A web based educational resource developed by the National Center for PTSD.  www.ncptsd.va.gov/ptsd101/

 

 

Post Deployment Mental Health Bulletin: 

  FACT SHEET (90.7 KiB, 151 hits)

Guide for Returning Service Personnel:
Developed by the Alabama Returning Veterans Committee, the
Reintegration Action Plan provides information on readjusting to civilian life and a tool for returning service personnel to map out a personal action plan (http://www.alabamareturningveterans.org/).

Restoring Hope: You can Save a Life – http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0810_restoringhope/

Failed relationships, legal and financial troubles and the high stress of wartime operations in Iraq
and Afghanistan are the leading factors linked to suicides. By being alert to signs of depression,
withdrawal, hopelessness and other warning signals, you can help. This Web special shares stories
of perseverance and experiences to help give you the knowledge to help save a life.

RAND Releases New Report – The War Within: Preventing Suicides in the Military

The increase in suicides among members of the military has raised concern among policymakers, military leaders, and the population at large – especially over the past few years. While the Defense Department and the military services have had a number of efforts under way to deal with the increase in suicides among their members, in 2008 the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs specifically asked the RAND National Defense Research Institute (NDRI) to identify best practices and determine if the Defense Department and service programs employed such practices.  Download the report here.

Center for Deployment Psychology:
The Center for Deployment Psychology offers a variety of courses in different formats.  (You can also reach these courses through the website, http://www.realwarriors.net/healthprofessionals/militaryculture/onlinelearning.php.
•    Short and Online Courses:  The Center also offers the following courses http://deploymentpsych.org/training/training-catalog:

o    Depression http://deploymentpsych.org/topics-disorders/depression.  Related courses include:

o    Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders http://deploymentpsych.org/training/training-catalog/epidemiology-of-ptsd-in-military-personnel-and-veterans-working-with-service-members-and-veterans-with-ptsd

o     Military Families and Deployment http://deploymentpsych.org/topics-disorders/military-families-and-deployment.  Related courses include:

o    The Deployment Cycle and its Impact on Service Members and Their Families

o    Sexual Assault in the Military http://deploymentpsych.org/topics-disorders/sexual-assault-in-the-military

o    Suicide in the Military http://deploymentpsych.org/topics-disorders/suicide