Revitalizing division mental health in Garrison: a post-Desert Storm perspective

The Division Mental Health Section (DMHS) has long been an essential component of the combat mental health mission. Relatively little attention has focused on its important functions in garrison. The authors, both veterans of Operation Desert Storm, review the DMHS mission in garrison and highlight forces currently jeopardizing the success of that mission. They describe Persian Gulf lessons with important implications for garrison mental health care and then discuss possible solutions to the varied problems facing DMHSs. They conclude, most importantly, that an effective DMHS must identify with the division, sharpen soldier and officer skills, respect organizational boundaries, and continuously prepare for combat.