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Does trauma risk management reduce psychological distress in deployed troops?
W Frappell-Cooke1, M Gulina, K Green
1Defence Clinical Psychology Service, HQ Surgeon General, DMS Whittington, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS14 9PY, UK.
Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England)
|October 5, 2010
Summary
Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) peer support may enhance psychological resilience in military personnel during deployments. Experienced TRiM units showed lower distress, highlighting the importance of social support for mental health in operational settings.
Area of Science:
- Military psychology
- Occupational health
- Trauma studies
Background:
- Military personnel face psychological risks from operational deployments.
- Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) is a peer-support system for early recognition and social support.
- TRiM practitioners are embedded within military units.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) implementation stages on military personnel's psychological well-being.
- Assess TRiM's effectiveness in units with varying levels of experience.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed Royal Marines and Army personnel pre-, during, and post-deployment to Afghanistan.
- Utilized General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12) and PTSD Checklist (PCL-C) for mental health assessment.
- Collected responses from 180 pre-deployment, 105 during, and 137 post-deployment participants.
Main Results:
- Units with established TRiM experience reported lower psychological distress than those new to the system.
- Higher psychological distress was reported pre- and during deployment compared to post-deployment.
- Increased access to social support during deployment correlated with reduced psychological distress.
Conclusions:
- Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) may bolster psychological resilience in military personnel.
- Facilitating social support is a key mechanism through which TRiM may operate.
- TRiM shows potential utility for supporting mental health during operational deployments.
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