Military Psychology

There are approximately 30,000 suicides in the United States each year. Over 20% of these suicides are completed by active duty service members and military veterans. Experts in the field of military suicide collaboratively contributed to this textbook to summarize the current state of research on this important topic. The text encompasses various themes; it defines the scope of the problem, outlines current methods for screening and assessing suicide risk, summarizes both evidence-based treatments and risk management techniques, and describes current suicide prevention efforts. Specific topics among such themes explore the effect of psychological trauma, traumatic brain injury, and the impact of military culture on suicide risk. In addition, the text provides an overview of suicide efforts targeted for special population veteran and active duty service members, such as the Army National Guard and Special Operations Forces. Ethical considerations, challenges of research, as well as future directions are highlighted to provide the reader with a critical analysis of military and veteran suicide research. The information provided herein is ideal for care providers such as physicians, psychologists, and mental health professionals—as well as academics whose work involves military service members and veterans.Less

Of the nearly 23 million individuals who have served in the US Armed Forces, the number of service members, veterans, and family members who will seek out professional mental health services is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands. Most of these services will be delivered outside of the US Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs by clinicians who may have limited experience with or knowledge about life in the military, nor will they have convenient access to the most up-to-date literature about military and veteran mental health. By summarizing the latest research and providing guidance and resources to help treat service members and veterans, this handbook fills an important gap for the mental health clinician. The focus of this handbook is on short-term psychosocial interventions that can be practically conducted outside of specialty medical settings. Topics covered in this book include information about the military culture; rules and regulations of the military; challenges faced by women military personnel and veterans; unique needs of National Guard and Reserve personnel; post-military transition; and clinical and social issues facing gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender service members and veterans. Other chapters describe the latest advances in how to assess and treat psychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and insomnia, and guidance on treating associated clinical issues such as suicide risk, nightmares, anger and aggression, and shame and guilt and the challenges to family members including youth and teens after an injury or death. Finally, this handbook financial planning, post-military education, and employmentLess