Who psych’s the psych? challenges facing embedded psychological support teams in the Middle East area of operations
It is well recognised that war and war-like experiences can impact on the psychological well-being of individuals and as a result the use of psychologists and psychiatrists by military forces during war can be traced back to World War 1. Whilst traditionally the use of psychologists in the military was primarily focussed on personnel selection, today’s Army psychologists have a much broader focus and provide a range of services both in Australia and on deployment.
With current operational tempo, Psychology Support Teams are being embedded in various Areas of Operation and contribute to force maintenance and sustainment, monitoring the mental health of deployed personnel, providing clinical services as well as preparing personnel to return home through the Return to Australia Psychology Screening (RtAPS) process. This paper reviews the personal experiences of a Psychology Support Team embedded in the
Middle East and discusses the role and challenges faced whilst on deployment.
