Training needs among nonmental health professionals working with service members: A qualitative investigation

ABSTRACT

Though many service members will not directly seek mental health care due to stigma and other factors, they may interact with the healthcare system in other ways including contact with first responders, nurses, and allied health care professionals. However, little attention has been spent in this regard on the educational needs of these professionals whose contact with service members and Veterans may provide the opportunity to assist Veterans in need with overcoming barriers to accessing mental health care. This qualitative study investigates the educational training needs of first responders and health care professionals in contact with military families and trauma survivors to determine whether, and what type, of additional training is needed. A sample of 42 first responders and health care professionals including emergency medical technicians, police officers, fire fighters, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and nurses were recruited to participate in 1 of 6 focus groups. Sessions were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis was guided by a thematic analysis approach. Thematic analyses suggest there is a significant knowledge gap with unmet educational needs of these professionals such as information on the invisible wounds of war, military culture, and screening and referring patients who present symptoms falling outside professionals’ scope of practice. Findings point to a need and desire for more robust education for first responders and health care providers around mental health concerns of military populations, including topics such as trauma, military culture, and screening tools. Efforts to develop curricula addressing these concerns are warranted.

KEYWORDS:

• Education
• first responders
• health professionals
• military

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General titled, “Behavioral Health Education Grant: Training for First Responders, Patient Care, and Rehabilitation Professionals” awarded to Dr. Naomi Simon and colleagues at Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program. Time dedicated to this manuscript was in part funded by two grants from the National Institute of Mental Health: NIMH K23MH096029- 01A1 awarded to Dr. Luana Marques and NIMH K01MH100428 awarded to Dr. Christina Borba.