Team Osan's 'psychological first aid'

  • Published
  • By Osan
  • Mental Health Clinic
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Coping with the emotional aftermath of a traumatic event can be difficult. However, the Air Force has designed programs to ensure that our Airmen do not have to face those challenges alone.

One of these programs is the Traumatic Stress Response team.

The TSR team is a group of representatives from the Mental Health Clinic, the Airman and Family Readiness Center and the Base Chapel that provides support and assistance to people who have experienced a traumatic event, such as the aftermath of an airplane crash, clean up of a natural disaster site or involvement with a mass casualty incident.

This commander-driven program, which serves active-duty military, civilians, and contractors of on-base organizations, takes a personal and flexible approach to helping people cope with unusual traumatic events.

TSR is initiated by a commander after a group, squadron, flight, or unit is impacted by a tragedy.

To activate the TSR team, the unit commander contacts the TSR team chief and consults regarding appropriate TSR interventions.

The TSR team chief will provide feedback and information regarding expected responses in the affected individuals depending on the nature of the potentially traumatic event.

TSR teams are part of a Department of Defense-directed initiative which operates under Air Force Instruction 44-153, Traumatic Stress Response, at each Air Force base.

Under the guidelines presented in AFI 44-153, individuals who have been involved in a traumatic event are provided up to four undocumented counseling sessions to work through problems dealing with stress. All TSR core members can conduct this counseling.

Essentially, the team performs what could be termed "psychological first aid" when traumatic events occur.

TSR teams can meet both group and individual needs by offering briefings and individual counseling.

Those who require help beyond the four undocumented counseling sessions may get further assistance from the Base Chapel, Airman and Family Readiness Center or the Mental Health Clinic. By doing so, people become clients of those services and must go on record as such.

For further questions or additional information regarding Osan's Traumatic Stress Response team feel free to contact the Mental Health Clinic at 784-2148.