Perspectives of mental health professionals on the delivery of embedded mental health services for U.S. Air Force airmen.

United States Air Force (USAF) leadership implemented the integrated operational support care model, which involves embedding mental health professionals directly within operational units to meet the mental health needs of airmen. The present study evaluated perspectives of embedded mental health professionals on the delivery of embedded care services for airmen assigned to various units and installations. We conducted semistructured interviews with 26 embedded mental health professionals. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim for qualitative analysis, involving thematic content analysis to identify and tabulate key themes emergent from the data. The most commonly reported barriers to delivering embedded mental health services were overcoming stigma associated with seeking mental health care, low staffing, insufficient training, and disconnected relationships between medical treatment facility and other support agencies. Interviewees described numerous strategies for effectively delivering embedded mental health services to include fully understanding and being able to communicate levels of mental health care services, reducing stigma, facilitating coordination of care/resources, and developing initiatives to target population needs. This is the first in-depth, systematic exploration of provider perspectives on embedded mental health services in the USAF. Future research should focus on how best to support embedded care programs to sustain this invaluable service for airmen and other military communities over time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Assessing work role strain, burnout, and job satisfaction among remotely piloted aircraft operators: the moderating role of unit social support.

Utilizing the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory as a guiding framework, the current study examined the relationships between job demands (work role strain) and occupational outcomes (burnout and job satisfaction) and assessed how job resources (team member social support and leader social support) mitigated the impact of high job demands for U.S. Air Force remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) operators. A total of 905 active duty U.S. Air Force RPA operators participated in a web-based occupational health assessment. Study findings confirmed that work role strain proved to be strongly related to negative occupational outcomes - increased burnout and reduced job satisfaction. Compelling evidence emerged suggesting that boosting job resources (i.e., team member and leader social support) may be a promising point of intervention to mitigate negative occupational outcomes. By investigating ongoing job demands that result in a higher incidence of burnout and job dissatisfaction, as well as job resources that protect against burnout and job dissatisfaction, researchers and practitioners can continue to introduce supportive resources at crucial points to alleviate the adverse consequences of occupational stress and burnout. Applying the JD-R theory to these findings highlights the importance of job resources for RPA operators and other employees working in high-risk, high-demand career fields. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Sources of Stress and Psychological Health Outcomes Among U.S. Air Force Total Force Distributed Common Ground System Operators.

U.S. Air Force Distributed Common Ground Station (DCGS) intelligence (Intel) operators sustain 24/7 battlefield situational awareness and facilitate precision-strike operations. DCGS operations are global, synergistic, Total Force (TF) endeavors by active duty, Air National Guard (ANG) and Reserve units, providing combatant commanders with critical real-time intelligence and shaping operational and tactical decisions. Continual surveillance of this community's psychological health is important to its military leaders. This study re-examines the most frequently reported occupational stressors, as well as the prevalence of occupational burnout (i.e., high-emotional exhaustion and cynicism, and low professional efficacy), and psychological distress within this population. Active duty (n = 1717), ANG (n = 139), and Reserve (n = 173) Intel operators participated in a comprehensive, online, occupational health assessment. Results reveal that occupational stressors contributing to elevated rates of distress, regardless of TF status (i.e., low manning, long work hours, excessive workload, and organizational communication concerns) are consistent with previous research. The prevalence of high-emotional exhaustion (AD: 29%/ANG: 25%/RES: 14%) and psychological distress (AD: 19%/ANG: 17%/RES: 5%) are above estimates for other military communities. These findings combined with demographic and occupational risk factors lay the foundation for improving psychological health within this Total Force community.

Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in United States Air Force Aeromedical Evacuation Nurses and Technicians.

Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATT) are specialized military medical personnel who provide high-acuity care in an aeromedical environment. The rate of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms was assessed in CCATT personnel and their rates were compared to general aeromedical evacuation (AE) personnel. As part of a computer-based occupational stress survey, 188 crew members (138 AE nurses and technicians, 50 CCATT nurses and respiratory therapists) completed the PTSD Checklist - Military Version. A categorical MEET/DOES NOT MEET CRITERIA variable was created, and a Fisher's exact test was computed to identify differences between groups. Contingency table analyses were used to assess associations between demographic and occupational variables with meeting criteria. χ2 or Fisher's exact test results, relative risks, and 95% confidence intervals were obtained, with 4.35% of AE and 14.00% of CCATT crew members meeting PTSD symptom criteria. The CCATT crew members were 3.22 times (95% confidence interval = 1.14-9.12) more likely to meet symptom criteria than AE, and for CCATT meeting criteria, the most commonly endorsed symptoms were arousal and avoidance. The demographic and occupational factors assessed in this study were not associated with meeting PTSD symptom criteria. Current findings are discussed in relation to current research on post-traumatic stress in ground-based critical care personnel.

Reassessment of psychological distress and post-traumatic stress disorder in United States Air Force Distributed Common Ground System operators.

The goal of this study was to assess for the main sources of occupational stress, as well as self-reported symptoms of distress and post-traumatic stress disorder among U.S. Air Force (USAF) Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) intelligence exploitation and support personnel. DCGS intelligence operators (n=1091) and nonintelligence personnel (n = 447) assigned to a USAF Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing responded to the web-based survey. The overall survey response rate was 31%. Study results revealed the most problematic stressors among DCGS intelligence personnel included high workload, low manning, as well as organizational leadership and shift work issues. Results also revealed 14.35% of DCGS intelligence operators' self-reported high levels of psychological distress (twice the rate of DCGS nonintelligence support personnel). Furthermore, 2.0% to 2.5% self-reported high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, with no significant difference between groups. The implications of these findings are discussed along with recommendations for USAF medical and mental health providers, as well as operational leadership.

Symptoms of psychological distress and post-traumatic stress disorder in United States Air Force "drone" operators.

The goal of this study is to repeat a survey administered in 2010 to assess for changes in mental health among United States Air Force aircrew operating Predator/Reaper remotely piloted aircraft, also commonly referred to as "drones." Participants were assessed for self-reported sources of occupational stress, levels of clinical distress using the Outcome Questionnaire-45.2, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using the PTSD Checklist-Military Version. A total of 1,094 aircrew responded to the web-based survey composed of the commercially available standardized instruments mentioned above. The survey also contained nonstandardized items asking participants to report the main sources of their occupational stress, as well as questions addressing demographics and work-related characteristics. The estimated response rate to the survey was 49%. Study results reveal the most problematic self-reported stressors are operational: low manning, extra duties/administrative tasks, rotating shift work, and long hours. The results also reveal 10.72% of operators self-reported experiencing high levels of distress and 1.57% reported high levels of PTSD symptomology. The results are lower than findings from the 2010 survey and from soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Implications of the study and recommendations for United States Air Force line leadership and mental health providers are discussed.