When a person perceives an event to be a threat to their physical and emotional well-being and has an intense negative reaction to it. The reaction may be emotional and/or physical.
2. Commander Directed Evaluation
A clinical assessment of a member for a mental disorder the purpose of which is to determine a member’s clinical mental health status and/or fitness for duty. The mental health evaluation may consist of a clinical interview, mental status examination, as well as a review of medical records, a review of other records, and information forwarded by the member’s commanding officer. It may also involve psychological testing, physical examination, and laboratory and/or other specialized testing.
In communities identified as having what is called "high capacity," leaders, organizational helping agencies, and agency members and their families share responsibility for the general welfare of the organizational community. High capacity communities demonstrate competence in addressing community needs and confronting situations that threaten the safety and well-being of community members.
Coping refers to an individual’s personal resources for managing the demands in his or her life. Positive coping skills are fostered by prior successful experiences in managing stressful life events. Skills for coping can also be learned through classes, counseling or reading materials available from helping agencies.
Counseling or "talking therapy" involves a trained professional assisting a member in resolving problems or making a change. Counseling can be done one-on-one or as couples or groups. It can be helpful for a number of concerns such as stress symptoms, poor sleep, nervousness, tension headaches, relationship difficulties, work problems, depression and anxiety disorders.
An acute emotional state arising from upsetting and/or difficult life situations that results in a temporary inability to cope. Crisis is usually perceived by the individual involved as being in danger, but crisis can also be a point of opportunity for growth, learning and expanding coping skills.
Drug abuse is defined as the illegal, wrongful, or improper use, possession, sale, transfer of any drug. This includes improper use of prescription medications, anabolic and androgenic steroids, and any intoxicating substances, other than alcohol, that are inhaled, inserted, consumed or introduced into the body for purposes of altering mood or function.
A situation in which a member is threatening, by words or actions, to harm himself, herself, or others, or to destroy property under circumstances likely to lead to serious personal injury or harm. In these situations, delaying mental health evaluation to complete administrative requirements could further endanger the member’s life or well-being, or the well-being of potential victims.
An initial approach to distress reduction by allowing people to talk about their experience.
Perceptions of sounds, visual objects, smells, or sensations that are not really present. Hallucinations may occur after ingestion of certain drugs, during withdrawal from alcohol, or as a symptom of a physical or mental illness.
Difficulty controlling one’s behaviors. Impulse control may be impacted by emotional distress, sleep deprivation, drugs or alcohol. Examples of poor impulse control include throwing objects, binge drinking, cursing/yelling at a superior or inflicting self-harm such as punching a wall or attempting suicide.
Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by the presence of recurrent unexpected feelings of overwhelming fear or dread. A panic attack is a relatively brief episode that may include sweating, palpitations, trembling, shortness of breath, nausea, feeling dizzy or a fear of losing control.
Individuals with personality disorders exhibit persistent problem behaviors that usually lead to difficulties with daily functioning and in relationships with others. People with these problems are sometimes less likely to seek help than individuals with acute problems, such as depression or anxiety. Those who do seek help often require long-term treatment. Mental health treatment can often help them with specific behavior changes and can improve their stability, however, those with severe personality disorders are likely to continue to experience serious problems in living.
15. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that may develop when a person has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, such as actual or threatened death (e.g., combat), serious injury, or sexual assault. Symptoms include intense fear, distressing memories or dreams of the event, rapid heart-beat, sweating, nausea and mild confusion when reminded of the event, and efforts to avoid cues associated with the event. It is normal for the survivor of traumatic events to have painful memories; to have anxiety (perhaps with jumpiness or being on guard); feel guilty (over surviving or for real acts of omission or commission); and to have unpleasant dreams. With PTSD, symptoms are persistent and debilitating. PTSD can occur even if the individual showed no acute stress behaviors at the time of the trauma.
Psychiatrists are physicians who have specialized training in the management of behavioral or mental health disorders. In addition to talking therapy, psychiatrists prescribe medication.
Psychologists are doctoral-level mental health providers who specialize in the management of behavioral or mental health disorders. They apply behavioral principles to life problems to help individuals find more effective ways of thinking, feeling and behaving. Most psychologists do not prescribe medications. Psychologists are also trained to use standardized assessment instruments to measure various moods, behavior, "personality styles," and intelligence levels. This background brings essential skills to help commanders with the many different personnel issues they face and for which they seek consultation .
18. Risk Taking Thoughts And Behavior
While not necessarily suicide-related, these are ideas and actions for which there is a high likelihood of injury or death. Examples include engaging in reckless sports, undertaking dangerous activities, and driving after consuming alcohol.
Social workers have either a Master's Degree or Ph.D. and are licensed to provide a wide variety of services to include individual, group, family, and child therapy. Most are skilled at providing consultation on designing and implementing community based prevention programs and initiatives.
Any interpersonal action, verbal or non-verbal, indicating a desire to bring about one’s own death, but stopping short of a directly self-harmful act.
Thoughts a person has of harming him or herself; a person may or may not act on these thoughts. Suicidal ideation is a risk factor for suicide.
A statement or act intended to inflict harm or injury on any person, or on his or her property. Threats also include words or actions intended to intimidate another person or to interfere with the performance of his or her official duties.
When members or other workers make comments perceived as indirect threats. Examples are, "I know where you live," or "You never know what can happen to you."
When a person detaches him or herself from social supports such as friends and family. This may occur as a response to life challenges.