Description

This symposium is presented in partnership with the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIVMHR) and the NATO-COMEDS Military Mental Health Panel (MMHP). COVID-19 has brought with it a whole host of challenges and fundamentally altered the way military personnel prepare for and are supported during operations. An immediate response was required to ensure continuity of care for existing and emerging mental health needs of military personnel. Inability to adapt to this environment would adversely impact the operational readiness of our Forces. This is a rapidly growing field, and the evidence base is still evolving, however, we may be able to leverage the existing knowledge on disaster psychiatry. The aim of this symposium is to bring the MMHP and an invited group of international experts together in partnership with CIVMHR to examine the current evidence base and best practise to maintain operational readiness and mental wellness of NATO Forces during a pandemic.

The focus of the symposium will be on personnel who are currently serving, and will aim to consider four key areas using the guiding principles of “PROMOTE”, “PREVENT”, “DETECT” and “TREAT”. The aim is to cover the whole operational readiness cycle from preventative measures through to clinical treatment, thereby generating recommendations for best practise for both the Chain of Command and clinical services. The three key areas of focus are:

1. The emerging epidemiology within military personnel of mental health disorders seen during the COVID pandemic, and their potential relationship to the pandemic, directly and indirectly.
2. The best actions and interventions to maintain operational readiness of NATO Forces during the acute phases of a pandemic like COVID-19, as well as in subsequent prolonged periods where severe restrictions on social contact prevail. The aim is also to propose key elements that would guide the ongoing provision of care during such a prolonged period.
3. The “best practice” actions and interventions to maintain operational effectiveness during NATO operations in the context of a pandemic.