CSTS | Department of Psychiatry | Uniformed Services University | 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799 | www.CSTSonline.org

Coronavirus and Other Emerging
Infectious Disease Outbreaks:
How Healthcare Personnel Can Support
Military Families and their HealthPublic health emergencies, suchin the form of education about basic
Publichealthemergencies,
suchas
as Coronavirus (COVID-19) andhygiene such as hand-washing andothers involving a global pandemic,
cough etiquette to more complex
COVID-19 and others involving a global
disaster behaviors such as sheltercreate numerous opportunities andpandemic,create
numerous
opportunities
in-place or evacuation.
challenges around public healthand challenges around public healthcommunication, preparedness, andPublic health emergencies such
response. Healthcare personnel
as
COVID-19
always involve issues
communication, preparedness, andplay a significant role in medicalof homeland security and defense.
response.
Because our military plays a central
intervention (disease surveillance,identification, and treatment) androle in our national security, theirin influencing patient behaviors forhealth and the health of theirprotecting individual, family, and public health. This can befamilies is very important.
Unique Characteristics of Military Family Life
The military community is a population on the move.
Families may relocate multiple times within short periodsof time within or outside of the country. Relocation,
especially during times of public health emergencies, may
increase exposure to disease. Moving also can be a barrier
to healthcare access and continuity. As families move to
new areas, healthcare personnel may not be as familiar withthese new families and their specific health needs.
During times of public health crisis, military healthcare
personnel need to be especially sensitive and alert tostressors and issues that relate to military families andmilitary family life. These include:■ Raised anxiety about the health and wellbeing of
loved ones who are deployed. Likewise, those who aredeployed will worry about their loved ones back home.
■ Single parent families (resulting from deployment)
often include young caretakers who may lack experiencein the role of protecting their family’s health, especiallyduring public health crises.
■ Military families with special needs children may
require additional medical and emotional support.
■ Families, especially those affected by combat injury,

whose children live with grandparents may be more
vulnerable to contracting illness.
■ Families of the combat injured may be concerned
about health risks visiting loved ones in hospitals or
rehabilitation facilities.
■ The changing nature of public health emergencies
may create the need for additional public healthinterventions such as travel limitations and quarantine.
These can produce more anxiety in families alreadyexperiencing stress.
Supporting the Psychological Wellbeing of Patients
Healthcare personnel can support patient wellbeing
and reduce distress by providing guidance andrecommendations to patients that serve to enhance feelingsof safety, calming, self- and community-efficacy, social
connectedness, and hope or optimism. The following arehelpful practices:■ Proactively provide consistent, easy to understand, andupdated messages about steps your healthcare clinic or
facility are taking to reduce risk to patients and provide
care to those who are ill.
Continued

■ Advise patients (adults and children) the most effective

way to care for themselves and their family is toimplement illness prevention practices recommended
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), including: hand-washing on a regular basis,
especially after coughing or sneezing; covering one’s
nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing orsneezing and throwing used tissues in the trash; avoid
traveling to high-risk areas or contact with those whohave contracted COVID-19; importantly, staying home
if one feels or is sick.
■ Recommend patients promptly contact their healthcare
provider if they are exposed to a sick individual that has
been in a high-risk area or develop symptoms of illness.
■ Remind patients that, while it may make them feelsafer, taking steps not recommended (ie; routine useof surgical masks without medical recommendation,
excessive restrictions on daily activities or travel) may
diminish resources needed in high risk areas, leavethem feeling more socially isolated, elevate distress for
those around them, and ultimately serve no protective
benefit.
■ Encourage the use of trusted sources of informationand discourage the spread and consumption of
misinformation, which is common during infectious
outbreaks. The CDC site on COVID-19 has accurate
and updated information and is found at the end of thisdocument.
■ For patients showing increasing or extreme signs of
distress (depression, substance use, suicidal thoughts,
inability to care for themselves or their family, or otherconcerning signs and symptoms) incorporate the use of
behavioral health personnel in primary care settings orrefer them to specialty behavioral health care services.
Current information about COVID-19 can be found at
the CDC’s website here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/

Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Department of Psychiatry
Uniformed Services University
4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799
www.CSTSonline.org