Beside the chaplain’s office on Joint Task Force Guantanamo stands a small trailer that houses morale dogs and massage chairs. Joint Stress Mitigation and Restoration Team is more than just massage chairs and morale dogs though, said Katherine Kline, a staff psychologist at JSMART on JTF-GTMO. JSMART is a behavioral health facility whose mission is to promote mental health awareness, resiliency and prevent other issues.
“Our number one goal here is to prevent mental health difficulties before they onset, so that falls under the resiliency,” Kline said. “We get out there and spread the word about how to take care of yourself and not let the stressors pile up; then, of course, to treat them once they do.”
Some of the services JSMART offers include …show more content…
Some of the most common stressors here are communication difficulties with loved ones back home and adjustment problems, missing people back home and not having that support network, Kline said.
“I think it’s really important for people to get out and meet people, make friends,” Kline said. “I tell people, it’s wise to come to this island, adjust and then maybe, decide to have a drink of alcohol because if you combine adjustment difficulties with alcohol use, you’re going to have some difficulties.”
Some of the stress management and relaxation techniques the behavioral health technicians teach are guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation and diaphragmatic breathing, Gillispie said.
“We provide skills to the Troopers,” Gillispie said. “It’s as easy as just breathing. You don’t have to be anywhere special. You can do it sitting at your desk or you can do it standing in formation if you want. It’s there to help you physiologically relax your body.”
A common misconception among service members is that people will find out the issues they are having if they seek help from JSMART. However, JSMART is covered under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which is a U.S. legislation that provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information, Kline
“Our number one goal here is to prevent mental health difficulties before they onset, so that falls under the resiliency,” Kline said. “We get out there and spread the word about how to take care of yourself and not let the stressors pile up; then, of course, to treat them once they do.”
Some of the services JSMART offers include …show more content…
Some of the most common stressors here are communication difficulties with loved ones back home and adjustment problems, missing people back home and not having that support network, Kline said.
“I think it’s really important for people to get out and meet people, make friends,” Kline said. “I tell people, it’s wise to come to this island, adjust and then maybe, decide to have a drink of alcohol because if you combine adjustment difficulties with alcohol use, you’re going to have some difficulties.”
Some of the stress management and relaxation techniques the behavioral health technicians teach are guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation and diaphragmatic breathing, Gillispie said.
“We provide skills to the Troopers,” Gillispie said. “It’s as easy as just breathing. You don’t have to be anywhere special. You can do it sitting at your desk or you can do it standing in formation if you want. It’s there to help you physiologically relax your body.”
A common misconception among service members is that people will find out the issues they are having if they seek help from JSMART. However, JSMART is covered under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which is a U.S. legislation that provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information, Kline