Army STARRS: Volume 3, Issue 5, Updated Oct 3, 2019

This document is an ongoing continuous summary of Army STARRS and STARRS-LS publications. Army STARRS (2009-2015) was the largest and most comprehensive research project of mental health among U.S. Army Soldiers ever conducted. The project was designed to examine a broad range of risk and resilience (protective) factors across a complex set of outcomes including suicidal behaviors and associated mental health issues. Army STARRS scientists created a series of large and extensive databases with the potential to achieve groundbreaking results. These databases allow scientists to investigate a diverse combination of factors from demographic, psychological, biological, neurological, behavioral, and social domains with the goal of generating actionable findings for the Army. The project was designed using an adaptive approach which means it evolved as new information became available over the course of the project. The research team shared preliminary findings, as they became available, with senior Army leadership so the Army could apply them to its ongoing health promotion, risk reduction, and suicide prevention efforts. The work is continuing under the STARRS Longitudinal Study (STARRS-LS) which runs from 2015 to 2020.

Joining Forces Joining Families, Fall 2019

The subject of the Fall 2019 issue of of Joining Forces Joining Families newsletter focuses on head trauma related to infant/child abuse, sometimes in the past referred to as “shaken baby syndrome,” but more accurately now called abusive head trauma (AHT). Previous issues of the newsletter can be found here.

HURRICANE DORIAN DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY RESOURCES

In anticipation of Hurricane Dorian's landfall, CSTS has developed a resource page that provides disaster mental health information to assist families, responders, community leaders, and healthcare providers in response and recovery efforts.

Research Review - Summer 2019 Issue

The latest edition of Research Review, a summary of new and innovative research on family violence, is now available on the website. This edition presents seven summaries of child maltreatment and intimate partner violence. The subjects of the child maltreatment summaries are: that the release dates of children's report cards can be associated with corporal punishment and physical abuse, the implications of shame in children that are physically or sexually abused, and suicidal feelings and children's connectedness to peers, family members, and schools. Among the summaries of intimate partner violence research are the implications of one parent alienating a child from the other parent, the association of household food insufficiency with family violence, and descriptions of themes tweeted by women who consider leaving their abusive partners.  

El Paso Texas and Dayton Ohio Shooting Response and Recovery Resources

Acts of mass violence, such as the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio cause extreme disruption and distress for individuals and the broader community. Victims, family and friends, first responders and emergency personnel, as well as workplace and community leaders are among those affected. Ongoing and graphic national media exposure creates a disaster “community” that extends far beyond the geographic region of the event. Individual and community strength can be enhanced by interventions that address critical behavioral health issues throughout response and recovery phases. Ideal interventions promote the evidence-based principles of Psychological First Aid (PFA), including: safety, calming, self- and community-efficacy, social connectedness, and a sense of hope/optimism.

Click HERE for resources that provide disaster mental health information to assist families, responders, community leaders, and healthcare providers in response and recovery efforts.