Mental Health Advisory Team (MHAT) 6 -- Operation Enduring Freedom 2009 Afghanistan
Abstract
Mental Health Advisory Team 6 OEF was established by the Office of the U.S. Army Surgeon General at the request of the Commanding General, U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A). The purpose of MHAT 6 OEF was to assess Service Member behavioral health, examine the delivery of behavioral health care in OEF, and provide recommendations for sustainment and improvement to command. From April 2009 to June 2009, OEF Service Members at the operational level completed the anonymous MHAT 6 OEF survey. In total, 638 surveys were collected from 27 maneuver unit platoons, 722 were collected from 25 support and sustainment platoons, 189 surveys were collected from other service members, and 31 surveys were collected from behavioral health personnel in the Afghanistan Theater of Operations. From 07 May to 24 June, the MHAT 6 OEF team processed and analyzed survey data, examined secondary data sources, conducted focus group interviews with Soldiers and behavioral health personnel, and wrote the technical briefing and draft report. Trends where examined across the three years of MHATs conducted in OEF (2005, 2007, and 2009). Individual morale rates in OEF 2009 were similar to rates reported in 2005 and 2007. However, unit morale rates in OEF 2009 were significantly lower than in 2005 or 2007. Rates of psychological problems (any combination of acute stress, depression, or anxiety) in OEF 2009 were similar to OEF 2007 rates but were significantly higher than OEF 2005 rates. Junior enlisted Service Members reported significantly more marital problems (divorce intentions from either Service Member or spouse or infidelity concerns) than NCOs. Service Members in support and sustainment units reported significantly more marital problems than Service Members in maneuver units. Results also are reported for risk factors (combat exposures, deployment length, multiple deployments) and resilience factors (barriers to care, stigma, coping behaviors, and behavioral health training).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 06, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA517326