Navy pilot programme in Bahrain provides local option for mental health care
Agencies | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
US troops deployed to Bahrain now have certain mental health services available locally for themselves and their family, freeing them of the necessity of returning stateside for care, Naval Forces Central Command announced yesterday.
A two-year pilot programme will allow people in military families who are experiencing acute mental health issues to receive up to a month of inpatient care from providers in Bahrain, a NAVCENT statement said.
The new programme also allows for intensive outpatient care, 5th Fleet spokesman Cmdr. Tim Hawkins said in an interview yesterday with Stars and Stripes.
“The protocols in place prior to this pilot program did not allow the military to refer our service members and their families to community-based providers in Bahrain for inpatient care beyond about one week, and intensive outpatient care at all,” Hawkins said.
Naval Support Activity Bahrain includes about 6,000 US active duty and reserve troops, 1,200 family members, 500 military civilians and 300 contractors, Hawkins said.
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