1. Substance abuse counselor and client reports of mental health screening and enhanced practices.
- Author
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Hurtado SL, Crain JA, Simon-Arndt CM, Highfill-McRoy RM, Hurtado, Suzanne L, Crain, Jenny A, Simon-Arndt, Cynthia M, and Highfill-McRoy, Robyn M
- Subjects
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POST-traumatic stress disorder , *DIAGNOSIS of post-traumatic stress disorder , *SUBSTANCE abuse treatment , *ATTITUDES of medical personnel , *DRUG abuse counselors , *EMPLOYEE orientation , *ALCOHOLISM counselors , *PSYCHOLOGY of military personnel - Abstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to examine mental health screening practices and attitudes from both counselor and client perspectives in the U.S. Marine Corps substance abuse program.Method: This study examined mental health screening practices and attitudes of 23 substance abuse counselors and 442 clients from six Marine Corps substance abuse counseling centers.Results: After receiving training on screening and enhanced counseling practices, 76% of counselors reported that they almost always screened their clients for post-traumatic stress symptoms. Seventy-three percent of clients agreed that substance abuse counselors should ask about their clients' stress concerns.Conclusion: Overall, implementing screening for common mental disorders was feasible in this setting. Counselors may need further support to increase collaboration with mental health professionals and adapt treatment plans to address co-occurring mental health conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2012
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