Aaniyah Hicks English Comp Professor Morales 4/5/24 Military Affecting Families Mental Health The demanding nature of military service can have a significant impact on service members and their families, especially in terms of mental health. Deployments, long separations, and the stress of the military lifestyle can all contribute to mental health issues within military families. In this essay, we will explore the ways in which the military affects family mental health, and discuss potential strategies for addressing these challenges. One of the primary ways in which the military can affect family mental health is through the experience of deployment. Deployments can be emotionally challenging for service members, who may face physical …show more content…
These moves can disrupt family routines, uproot children from their schools and friends, and make it difficult for family members to establish a sense of stability and belonging. The constant upheaval of military life can take a toll on family mental health, leading to feelings of isolation, disconnection, and stress. The military lifestyle itself can also contribute to mental health challenges within military families. The demands of military service can be physically and emotionally taxing, and service members may struggle with issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. These mental health issues can impact the entire family, as service members may have difficulty coping with their symptoms and may exhibit behaviors that are distressing or disruptive to their loved ones. Fortunately, there are strategies that can help military families cope with the mental health challenges they face. Mental health resources are available to service members and their families through military support services, such as counseling, therapy, and support groups. These resources can help families build resilience, improve communication, and develop coping strategies for managing the stress of military
When we picture the United States Military we regard men and women in uniform fighting for our country. However, what we do not picture is the hidden problems. Stress of the job, members returning home from war, and combat create an increased stress level that can result in abusing substances and cause behavioral problems. The military has recognized that this has become a problem and is now taking steps to ensure their members safety.
Many children are born into families that are a part of a branch of the military. Parents may wonder if the constant moving and deployment will bring negative effects on a child’s development. The rigorous lifestyle of the military can have negative effects on the children’s development growing up, but the opportunity of living as a military child is a culturally diverse, socially strong, and mature development of characteristics. The military life offers many benefits for raising a child. Have a family in the military lifestyle can greatly help the children’s development of positives characteristics.
Seal, Karen H., Daniel Bertenthal, Christian R. Miner, Saunak Sen, and Charles Marmar. "Bringing the War Back Home: Mental Health Disorders Among 103 788 US Veterans Returning From Iraq and Afghanistan Seen at Department of Veterans Affairs Facilities." Archives of Internal Medicine 167.5 (2007): 476-82. Print.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a devastating anxiety disorder that affects many active military personnel and veterans. In many cases Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) goes untreated often due to the individual not realizing that they are being affected by the disorder, or by the individual having previous failed attempts at treatment. Even though PTSD is now being recognized as a disorder that affects many soldiers, the disorder's effect on family is not as widely recognized. The spouses and children of individuals with PTSD often experience similar negative symptoms of the disorder; this is referred to as secondary traumatization or compassion fatigue. Many families of active military personnel and veterans suffering from PTSD appear to have secondary traumatization, as they experience similar symptoms and feelings of loneliness, which leads to them feeling as though they are also suffering from the disorder.
The standard military family understands the fact that their veteran will be not only deployed, but put in some of the most dangerous situations in history. However, in the midst of the danger a stronger bond and sense of survival builds inside each member of the family. When a family is dealing with having to accept that a member of their family will die for their protection, a new understanding of life is gained and accepted. In my life, I have had to say goodbye to my father, and have him absent from my life for over three years. Three whole years in which communication was limited and assurance of safety was not a thing. During these times I was faced with all the negatives of the military life, and personally felt that the military was
Military Pathway (2013) concluded “Military life, especially the stress of deployments or mobilizations, can present challenges to service members and their families that are both unique and difficult”. Hence, it is not surprising that soldiers returning from a stressful war environment often suffer from a psychological condition called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This paper provides a historical perspective of PTSD affecting soldiers, and how this illness has often been ignored. In addition, the this paper examines the cause and diagnosis of the illness, the changes of functional strengths and limitations, the overall effects this disease may have on soldiers and their families, with a conclusion of possible preventative measures and treatment options. All of these findings are backed by extensive research through media, web, and journal references.
The military culture is truly a society of warriors who heavily rely on each individual to master the ability of handling stress under the most extreme circumstances. Personal sacrifice in order to ensure mission success is paramount within the military culture. Due to this mindset, which is heavily reliant on demonstrating resilience through adversity and displaying inner strength, individuals diagnosed with a mental illness face an extraordinary battle amongst their peers.
Military children are in a league of their own, and at very young ages are thrown into situations of great stress. Approximately 1.2 million children live in the U.S. Military families (Kelly. 2003) and at least 700,000 of them have had at least one parent deployed (Johnson et al. 2007). Every child handles a deployment differently, some may regress in potty training, and others may become extremely aggressive. Many different things can happen, in most cases when a parent deploys and the child becomes difficult to handle, it can cause a massive amount of stress on the parent that is not deployed as well as added stress on the parent who is deployed. There are three stages of a deployment, pre-deployment, deployment, and reintegration, being educated on these three things can make a deployment “run” smoothly for the entire family.
Anytime a child is away from their parent whether it is to spend time with friends, while parents are at work or during school children tend to get emotional. Parents that are in active in the military can never be sure how much time they have to spend with their families. Separation anxiety is something that affects both child and parent negatively, and there is only so much you can do to prepare for it. Being deployed in the military is honorable but it will take a toll of on a family, especially a developing child.
these mental health concerns and the psychosocial issues that often accompany them will continue to carry over into transition back into civilian life.” (Godfrey, pg. 1). 243) Mental health can cause great detriments to daily living and lead to horrible effects. Military women, such as Burton, are at high risk of developing poor mental health.
Seal, K. H., Bertenthal, D., Miner, C. R., Sen, S., & Marmar, C. (2007). Bringing the War Back Home: Mental Health Disorders Among 103 788 US Veterans Returning From Iraq and Afghanistan Seen at Department of Veterans Affairs Facilities. Archives of Internal Medicine, 167(5), 476-482. doi: 10.1001/archinte.167.5.476
Upon evaluation, the journal article “ Mental Health in Deployed and Non-deployed Veteran Men and Women in Comparison With their Civilian Counterparts” by Mark W. Hoglund and Rebecca M. Schwartz published by Military Medicine in Volume 19 proves to be a moderately reliable source due to the academic presentation which includes data, personal interviews, qualified sources and a balanced argument that have points that support their argument. Mark W. Hoglund was a project manager for Family Health services, he served as a Human Resources professional in three different organizations, and studies Adult Career planning and Development. Rebecca M. Schwartz is a clinical psychologist, assistant professor, and a graduate of public health. Although Schwartz never served in military and majority of her studies are for HIV in kids and women this leads her to have lot of information about the mental being.
Aaniyah Hicks English Comp Professor Morales 4/5/24 The Military Affecting Families Mental Health The effects of military service on family mental health are profound and multifaceted, with deployments, frequent moves, and the demands of the military lifestyle all contributing to the challenges that military families face. In this essay, we will delve deeper into the ways in which these factors impact family mental health, explore potential strategies for addressing these challenges, and consider the importance of supporting military families in maintaining their well-being. One significant way in which military service can impact family mental health is through the strain of frequent moves and deployments. The constant uprooting of families can lead to feelings of instability, isolation, and difficulty in maintaining relationships with extended family and friends.
Mental health issues in the US military are a significant problem that often go untreated or under-treated. The military culture places a strong emphasis on toughness and resilience, which can discourage service members from seeking help for mental health issues due to fear of harm in their career prospects or damage to their reputation. The consequences of untreated mental health issues are severe and can have a lasting impact on service members and their families. Studies have shown that untreated mental health problems can lead to higher rates of suicide, substance abuse, and relationship problems among military personnel. These issues can also have a negative impact on a service member's performance and readiness for duty, which can have
Studies should also explore the simultaneous occurrence of child maltreatment, spouse abuse, and co-occurring mental illnesses. In addition, the risks that military spouses encounter need to be examined in greater detail. Lohr (2011) reports that many military wives share symptoms of their husbands’ work related stress in the form of lost sleep, digestive disorders, and irritability because they often assume more household responsibilities in their husbands’ absences. Separation may also add pressure and transform the family by creating new roles and responsibilities for family members left behind, uncertainty about the safety of the soldier, disruption to the family routine, and the inability to plan for the future. By identifying patterns of maltreatment in military families and making comparisons with family violence in civilian populations, health care providers will be able to make informed future decisions with respect to the allocation of services to its military personnel.