There are many challenges Medical Officers and Behavioral Health Specialists face when taking care of young adult military recruits in Coast Guard basic training, both physical and mental. Despite our efforts to limit unnecessary stressors in the training environment, many recruits in our care have never previously been away from home or away from their families; others have never experienced anything akin to the rigors of the training environment. Many recruits have trouble coping with the stress of the experience. During recruit training, many seem to approach or to reach their individual breaking points, often manifesting in the form of visits to the clinic for physical complaints, and at times with visits for psychological/psychiatric complaints. Medical Officers must often quickly determine whether recruits can be safely returned to the training environment or if further medical or psychological evaluation is required. Ensuring the mental health and safety of our recruit population is of paramount importance, and often involves other disciplines, including Psychologists, Licensed Social Workers, and our Chaplain Corps. Lessons learned from providing medical and other interdisciplinary care to this vulnerable workforce can be extrapolated to addressing the challenges faced by all those who likewise provide care across the spectrum to other federal agencies and partners. Recognition of the potential psychological components prompting caregivers to in turn seek medical, and at times psychological, care is paramount to addressing the underlying etiology of reported symptoms. This lecture will explore the relationship between psychological stressors and somatic symptoms in vulnerable patient populations as well as in those who provide care to these patients and each other.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health of US service members in healthcare. Service members in healthcare play a vital role in responding to public health emergencies. They are often on the front lines, providing care to infected patients and working to prevent the spread of disease. This work can be stressful and demanding, even under normal circumstances. During the COVID-19 pandemic, service members in healthcare have faced additional challenges. They have been exposed to high levels of stress, anxiety, and fear. They have also had to deal with the death and suffering of many patients. In some cases, they have also experienced stigma and discrimination. As a result of these challenges, many service members in healthcare have experienced mental health problems. These problems can include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance abuse. Mental health problems can have a significant impact on a person's work performance, relationships, and overall well-being. It is important to recognize the mental health challenges faced by US service members in healthcare and to provide them with the support they need. This support can include access to mental health services, as well as creating a culture of resilience and support within the military and healthcare community. The NIH article by Hannemann et al (2022) provides valuable insights into the psychosocial factors that contribute to pandemic burn in healthcare workers. These findings can be used to develop targeted interventions to promote the mental health of US service members in healthcare.