Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

1. Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services OEF/OIF Overview ~~~~~~~~ Connecticut Military Support Program Jim Tackett Director, Veterans Services Serving Connecticut’s Citizen Soldiers, Veterans and Their Families

2. OEF Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan ~~~~~ OIF Operation Iraqi Freedom – Iraq ~~~~~ OND Operation New Dawn - Iraq (effective Spring 2010)

3. Hidden Wounds of War RAND Study, April 2008 18.5% (300,000) PTSD, Depression, Anxiety 19% (320,000) mTBI Milliken, Aucherlone, JAMA, Nov 2007 20% active duty report psychological symptoms 42.4% reserve component report symptoms DoD MH Task Force Final Report, Mar 2007 37% active duty Army report psychological symptoms 49% reservists report Symptoms

4. Prolonged exposure to trauma  physiological changes*In War ZoneNow Home

5. Prolonged exposure to trauma  physiological changes Hoge summarizes that going to war changes how the body functions, and the expectation that this will reset quickly upon return home is unrealistic. There is no switch to restore physiological functions back to the way they were before deployment. A dial is a better metaphor. It’s best to understand these body responses from the perspective of how they serve important functions in a combat environment, and then look for ways to dial these responses down after returning home.

6. New Clinical Thinking Road home following war is a path through predictable emotional and behavioral challenges Spectrum of war zone stress response (Partial PTSD) Challenge is to normalize psychological symptoms associated with the deployment cycle De-mystify behavioral health care Assist newly returned veterans to treatment and support

7. MILITARY SUPPORT PROGRAM Provides counseling services to Veterans, including National Guard and Reserve members and to their families

8. Military Support Program 440 licensed clinicians located throughout the State~~~~~~~~Accessed through a 24/7Call Center

9. MSP Counseling Services are: Free Confidential Locally available Serves Family Members

10. MSP Embedded Clinician Program 29 MSP clinicians are now embedded within National Guard Units that have been, or will be, affected by deployment(s) Familiar, on-site presence, each unit’s key POC for behavioral health matters Reduce stigma by encouraging open, honest discussion of behavioral health issues among soldiers, airmen and family members Provide immediate access to behavioral health services

11. Connecticut Military Support Program~~~~~~~ To access MSP services call 1-866-251-2913 ~~~~~~~ Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

12. Responsibilities of a Grateful Nation Assure the good health and well-being of every returning soldier Support the military family throughout the deployment cycle Develop social structures that may harness and support the involvement of the community in assisting veterans and their families to excellence in their lives following their experience in war. LTCOL (Chaplain) John Morris

13. DMHAS Veterans Services Serving Connecticut’s Citizen-Soldiers, Veterans and Their Families Jim Tackett, Director Office of the Commissioner Dept. of Mental Health and Addiction Services 410 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06134 860-418-6979