Critics of CSF2

Lt. Col. Richard Toye is commander of the 883rd in Afghanistan. He is deployed as a member of the Army Reserve, to help monitor and care for the mental well-being of service members, any one of whom could be exposed to combat trauma through IEDs or gunfire. 

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He is highly skeptical of CSF2, for example. “If we train you to be spiritual and to have a social network and to be physically fit and to have lots of hobbies, well, just because those are the characteristics of people who are stress-resilient, it doesn’t mean that I can take those demands and put them on your head and make you stress-resilient,” Toye said. “It is pseudoscience. And we put a lot of money into it.”

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Researchers in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s College of Business Administration have partnered with the U.S. Army to evaluate a new mental fitness program that could eventually lead to lower rates of depression, suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder among soldiers.

“Our goal is to see if this type of training helps soldiers to become more resilient and more psychologically stable,” said Dina Krasikova, a post-doctoral research associate.

“There’s a lot of problems the Army is having right now,” said Pete Harms, an assistant professor of management who has been involved with the research for about three years. “The program is designed to improve psychological resiliency and better equip soldiers to cope with the stress of the battlefield.”

No training program is able to completely eliminate the psychological problems that are so prevalent in the military, Harms said.

“It’s not a magic bullet,” he said. “It’s not going to solve the suicide problem. It’s not going to solve the PTSD problem. These are very complex issues. Doing some online modules isn’t going to cure someone, but it might make them more aware and be more likely to seek help.”

• The U.S. Army's Ambitious Fight Against PTSD

• CBA researchers partner with U.S. Army to evaluate mental fitness program

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health problem that can occur after someone goes through a traumatic event like war, assault, or disaster. 



PTSD can affect soldiers, along with police officers, firemen, and other emergency service units.





The National Center for PTSD is ran by the US Department of Veteran Affairs. To view website- CLICK HERE 

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Graphic war images show the harsh realities soldiers face everyday. As the tanks continue to roll on the Middle East, our soldiers continue to see more violence and death. CSF2 aims to make soldiers 'OK' with these violent situations. 

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

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TREATMENT

The main treatments for people with PTSD are psychotherapy (“talk” therapy), medications, or both. Everyone is different, so a treatment that works for one person may not work for another. It is important for anyone with PTSD to be treated by a mental health care provider who is experienced with PTSD. Some people with PTSD need to try different treatments to find what works for their symptoms.

If someone with PTSD is going through an ongoing trauma, such as being in an abusive relationship, both of the problems need to be treated. Other ongoing problems can include panic disorder, depression, substance abuse, and feeling suicidal.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medications for treating adults with PTSD:

• sertraline (Zoloft)
• paroxetine (Paxil)

Both of these medications are antidepressants, which are also used to treat depression. They may help control PTSD symptoms such as sadness, worry, anger, and feeling numb inside. Taking these medications may make it easier to go through psychotherapy. 

HOW TO HELP

If you know someone who has PTSD, it affects you too. The first and most important thing you can do to help a friend or relative is to help him or her get the right diagnosis and treatment. You may need to make an appointment for your friend or relative and go with him or her to see the doctor.

If you are unsure where to go for help, ask your family doctor. Others who can help are listed below.

Mental health resources
• Mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, or mental health counselors
• Health maintenance organizations
• Community mental health centers
• Hospital psychiatry departments and outpatient clinics
• Mental health programs at universities or medical schools
• State hospital outpatient clinics
• Family services, social agencies, or clergy
• Peer support groups
• Private clinics and facilities
• Employee assistance programs
• Local medical and/or psychiatric societies.
• 
  

You can also check the phone book under “mental health,” “health,” “social services,” “hotlines,” or “physicians” for phone numbers and addresses. An emergency room doctor can also provide temporary help and can tell you where and how to get further help.

• NIMH on PTSD

Suicide Among Veterans

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   The chart above shows suicide among veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan between 2001-05. This rate has rose similar to the active duty suicide rate. 

More shocking results came from a recent study done by the Department of Veteran Affairs, which was released earlier this year. It is the most extensive study ever conducted on veteran suicide. Researchers collected data from 1999-2010, before they began to analyze the information. Stats from the study show that once every 65 minutes a military veteran commits suicide. 

• Suicide Rate Among Vets and Active Duty Military Jumps - Now 22 A Day

Suicide Rate Among Active Military

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As shown in the charts above, the suicide rate of active military members has rose annually since the war began in the Middle East. From 2004-2008 alone, the suicide rate has rose by 80%. In a shocking statistic, the US Army lost 349 soldiers to suicide in 2012, compared to the 295 soldiers lost in combat. 

• U.S. Military's Suicide Rate Surpassed Combat Deaths In 2012
• Study: Suicide rates among army soldiers up 80 percent

Comprehensive Soldier & Family Fitness Program

                              Here is an overview video of what the CSF2 program is about.
                     To watch more informational videos about the CSF2 program- CLICK HERE
                                 To read more about the CSF2 program- CLICK HERE


The Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness (CSF2) program is an enduring effort, committed to developing and sustaining a new Army culture of total fitness, increased psychological health, and resilience, in order to enhance the performance of the entire Army community. CSF2 provides Soldiers, family members, and Army civilians with the resources and skills necessary to cope with adversity and thrive throughout their lives.

The program is committed to enhancing Soldier resilience and coping skills by using an all-inclusive approach to fitness and focusing on the five dimensions of strength (physical, emotional, family, spiritual, and social). CSF2 provides Army community members with the means to assess strengths and to grow in all aspects of fitness, be it through Master Resilience Trainers, Comprehensive Resilience Modules, the Global Assessment Tool, Institutional Resilience Training, or Performance Enhancement. 

• Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness