Mental fitness in deployment troops(slide show)
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MENTAL FITNESS IN DEPLOYMENT TROOPS
BY LT COL (DR) LOTFI BIN ANUARMBBS (MALAYA), MMEDPSYCH (UKM)
MILITARY PSYCHIATRIST & HODHAT TUANKU MIZAN
05/03/2023 1SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
PENGENALAN• Military deployment can be anywhere• Operation tasks, humanitarian missions,
peacekeeping enforcement etc• Military downsizing has increased the
likelihood that each soldier will eventually participate on an extended mission
• Impact long separation as 60% of soldiers are married
• The need of coping strategies to pass through all the stage of deployment
05/03/2023 2SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
STAGES OF DEPLOYMENTPre-deployment : variesDeployment : 1st monthSustainment : 2nd to 5th monthRe-deployment : last monthPost-deployment : 3-6 month after
deployment
05/03/2023 3SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT?• Each stage has specific emotional challenges• Failure to cope and understand the stages
cause problems to family members and deployed soldier
• Help family to cope positively towards deployment experience
• help to avert crises, minimize the need for command intervention and psychological counseling
• To reduce suicidal threats
05/03/2023 4SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
PRE-DEPLOYMENT• Onset begin with warning order for
deployment• Ended when the soldier actually departs from
home station• Timeframe variable: several weeks - > a year• Anticipation of loss vs denial by the spouse• “you don’t have really to go?”or “ I wish you
were gone already”• Sense of emotional and physical distance for
military spouses
05/03/2023 5SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
Argument• Argument with the spouse is common due to
stress of pending separation• Esp among young couple who experiencing
extended separation for the first time• Catastrophic reaction divorce• Usually due to fear that the relationship is
over/ fear of infidelity and lead to tremendous anxiety to couple
• Resolving marital issues that precede the deployment is very difficult and best left until the soldier return
05/03/2023 6SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
Impact of unresolved family argumentDeployed soldier: Unable to focus on task
especially on military movement and lead to accident
Spouse: disturb house and office works, neglecting children
Children : fear that the loved daddy/mummy not returned home lead to inconsolable crying, tantrums and regressive behaviors.
05/03/2023 7SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
PREPARATION FOR COUPLE• To discuss in detail their expectation each
other during the deployment period such asa) Freedom to make independent decisionb) Contact with the opposite sex (fidelity)c) Going out with friendsd) Budgetinge) Child-rearingf) How often the communication will be done
during the period
05/03/2023 8SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
Must do lista) Home repairsb) Security
(door/alarms etc)c) Car maintenanced) Finances (ATM, CC
cards)e) Child care planf) Wills
g) Special family vacation
h) Increased intimacy i) Visiting older
parent j) Plan of paying
installment
05/03/2023 9SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
PREPARATION FOR DEPLOYED COMMANDER• Enhance the unit support system through
religious officer/ counselor• Do not forget the program for the deployed
spouses• Increase the field training and promoting the
unit cohesion• Giving clear explanation about the mission,
its duration and the allowances• Established a family support group for
deployed spouses and families05/03/2023 10SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
DEPLOYMENT• Stage started from the soldier’s departure
from home through the first month of deployment
• Mainly mixed emotion, unpleasant feeling, feeling disoriented, overwhelming and residual anger, feeling numbness, sadness and being alone or abandonment
• Worries about security issues eg what if my child get sick, my car break down or the salary problem
• Sleep difficulties
05/03/2023 11SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
Communication with the love one• Reconnection between the spouse and the
deployed soldier is a stabilizing experience• Phone call, video call or internet online are one of
the way to relieve the unpleasant anxiety• Search for the free phone call provided by unit if
available or use the commercial phone lines• Has to prepare to wait for some time before can
make their first call home• Ability to stay in close touch during special
occasions (birthday, anniversaries) might help them to cope with separation.
05/03/2023 12SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
Unwanted effect• Huge phone bills can result with further financial
stress• Bad phone call can cause negative feeling like hurt,
anger or frustration may cause emotional disturbance and inability to focus towards certain issues or missions
• Spouse and soldier may feel helpless and unable to support each other at time of need
• These issues need to be monitored by the deployed commanders
• Role of peers, senior rank or officers as counselorsand support provider
05/03/2023 13SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
SUSTAINMENTStage started from the first month to the fifth
(penultimate) month of deploymentNew routine establishedNew sources of emotional support eg
religious institution, religious officerSpouse will feels more in control,
independence and confidence
05/03/2023 14SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
Common problemUsual challenge is rapid speed of information
through phone calls or internetResponse of children towards deployment of
parent
05/03/2023 15SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
Commanders role
• To coordinate emergency leave if required• To control rumor and limiting the negative
impacts by keep the soldier and families fully informed and up to date
• To advice the soldier to make a call within regular interval and time
• eg allegation of infidelity (difficult to prove true or false), accident or injuries, changes in date of return etc
05/03/2023 16SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
Children reactionsAges Behaviors Moods Remedy
Infants < 1 yr Refuse to eat
Listless Peads doctor
Toddlers 1-3 yrs Cries, tantrum
Irritable, sad
Attention, holding,
hugsPreschool 3-6 yrs Potty
accidents, clingy
Irritable, sad
Attention, holding,
hugs
School Age 6-12 yrs Acting out*, body aches
Irritable, sad
Spend time, maintain routine
Teenagers 12-18 yrs Isolates, uses drugs
Anger, apathy
Patience, limit-
setting, counseling
05/03/2023 17SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
RE-DEPLOYMENTStage started at the month before the soldier
is schedule to return homeAnticipation of homecomingExcitementBurst of energy to complete to do list
05/03/2023 18SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
POST-DEPLOYMENT• Stage begins with the arrival at the home station• Children rushes to the returning parent• Warm embrace and kiss for the united couple• Praise from senior commander• To understand that some time it can be upsetting up to
their expectation due to various reason• Returning back to previous role in the family, be
prepare for any change/loss, starting the communication
• Try not to make changes right away and to take time to renegotiating family rules and norms
• Allow several months to re-establish family bonds
05/03/2023 19SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
Children reactions post-deployment• The feelings depends to their understanding of
why the soldier was gone• Babies less 1 year old may do not know the soldier
and cry when held• Toddlers (1-3 years) may be slow to warm up• Pre-schoolers (3-6 years) may feel guilty and
scared over the separation• School aged children (6-12 years) may wants a lot
of attention• Teenagers (13-18 years) may be moody and may
not appear to care05/03/2023 20SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
CONCLUSIONThe separation of deployment(unlike civilian
couple) provide soldier and spouse a chance to evaluate changes within themselves and what direction they want their marriage to take
Although a difficult as well as joyful stage, many military couples have reported that their relationship is much stronger as a result
05/03/2023 21SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
THANK YOU
05/03/2023 22SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION
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