What’s New

Assisting Bereaved U.S. Military Service Children and Spouses

April is the Month of the Military Child, which serves as an opportunity to honor the sacrifices military children make on behalf of our nation. Sadly, military duty-related deaths are included in those sacrifices. Of the 15,938 U.S. military service members who died in the decade following 9/11, 85% died suddenly and violently. Such losses place military children and widowed spouses at higher risk for poorer bereavement outcomes, especially given that surviving family members are often young and separated from extended family. Please click HERE to read full post

13th Annual Amygdala, Stress and PTSD Conference: The Sequela of Trauma

Trauma, and the sequela of trauma, affects millions of individuals around the world every year.  From natural disasters to mass shooting to combat, millions suffer from the after effects of these traumatic events.  Our annual Amygdala, Stress, and PTSD Conference, now in its 13th year, brings together scientists and clinicians workings towards solving the biological basis of stress, fear, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

17 April 2018 at USU Sanford Auditorium

Click the picture or HERE for the program

Click HERE to visit the site

Army STARRS: Vol 2, Iss 02 (UPDATED APRIL 11,2018)

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.

The Month of the Military Child

April is the Month of the Military Child and CSTS has developed a new resource for providers to assist military children and families through the deployment cycle.

Click HERE for the Factsheet

STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY RESOURCES

In response to the tragic shootings at the Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress has created resource page with information and educational fact sheets. These resources provide disaster mental health information to assist families, responders, community leaders, and healthcare providers in response and recovery efforts. The resource page can found HERE.

Crisis Leadership: Promoting Emotional and Mental Well-Being Symposium

Please register HERE if you are participating or attending. 

Climate Change and Disaster Mental Health

At the request of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), Center Scientist and member of the APA Committee on the Psychiatric Dimensions of Disaster, Dr. Joshua Morganstein, developed a 1-hour continuing medical education module on "Climate Change and Disaster Mental Health". This activity provides content for healthcare and other professionals to better understand psychological and behavioral effects, vulnerable populations, evidence-based interventions, and preparedness measures with respect to climate-related disasters. The education module can be accessed HERE.

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY RESOURCES

In support of those responding to the wildfires in California, the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress has created a dedicated page with information and resources on grief, evacuation centers, psychological and behavioral reactions to disasters, vulnerable populations, health risk and crisis communication, exposure and contamination, and workplace management during crisis. These can be accessed by clicking HERE

First Baptist Church Shootings in Sutherland Springs Disaster Response and Recovery Resources

In response to the tragic shootings at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress has created resource page with information and educational fact sheets which provides disaster mental health information to assist families, responders, community leaders, and healthcare providers in response and recovery efforts. The resource page can found HERE.

American Psychiatric Association's Military and Veteran Mental Health Series

The American Psychiatric Association, in collaboration with the Society of Uniformed Services Psychiatrists, has released the Military and Veteran Mental Health Series. This series provides free online courses to member psychiatrists who treat and interact with service members, veterans, and their families. Members may be eligible for up to 3.5 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit.

US Army Culture for Researchers Book

The Center has developed "US Army Culture: An Introduction for Behavioral Health Researchers" to assist researchers with understanding Army culture and how this impacts the development, conduct, and analysis of research involving soldiers and their families. The book provides information on a range of Army topics including: history and culture; understanding Active, Guard and Reserve components; key terminology and rank structure; as well as pragmatic suggestions to enhance research and related products. The book can be accessed here.

Las Vegas Concert Shooting Disaster Response and Recovery Resources

In response to the mass shooting at a concert in Las Vegas, the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress has created a dedicated page with information and resources on grief, psychological and behavioral reactions to disasters, vulnerable populations, health risk and crisis communication, and workplace management following a crisis. These can be accessed by clicking HERE

MEXICO EARTHQUAKES DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY RESOURCES

In support of those responding to the earthquakes in Mexico, the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress has created a dedicated page with information and resources on grief, evacuation centers, psychological and behavioral reactions to disasters, vulnerable populations, health risk and crisis communication, and workplace management during crisis. These can be accessed by clicking HERE.

HURRICANES HARVEY, IRMA, KATIA AND MARIA

In response to the devastating effects of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria and Katia, the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress has created a dedicated page with information and resources on grief, evacuation centers, psychological and behavioral reactions to disasters, vulnerable populations, health risk and crisis communication, and workplace management during crisis communication, and workplace management during crisis. These can be accessed by clicking HERE.

PTSD Brain Bank News Spot

News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports

The Uniformed Services University and Veteran's Administration have partnered to open the national PTSD Brain Bank, where researchers will investigate the impact of stress, trauma and PTSD on brain tissue. This work is being conducted in order to advance the scientific knowledge of PTSD, particularly the identification of PTSD biomarkers. Recent media coverage of the Brain Bank, it's relevance and potential impacts can be found here.