By Kanchana Bindu Kuruganti, M.A., PMP
Jan. 11, 2021

PHCoE graphic

PHCoE and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) co-hosted the VA/DOD Women's Mental Health Webinar Series Sep. 22-24, 2020. The objective of this live webinar training was to provide VA and DOD mental health providers with clinical knowledge and skills to deliver gender-sensitive care to women service members and veterans.

More than 1000 clinical providers, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, advanced practice nurses, registered nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, and behavioral health technicians, across the Military Health System and VA attended across three days and individual sessions averaged more than 400 participants. The live webinar offered an opportunity for active audience participation as DOD and VA mental health participants shared their thoughts and experiences and learned from the speakers' expertise.

The sessions were recorded and are now available as enduring trainings.

You can register to view and receive continuing education credits for these recorded sessions delivered by VA and DOD subject matter experts on unique aspects of women's mental health. Topics include women in the military, women's mental health across the lifecycle, depression in women, insomnia in women, deployment stressors unique to military women, intersectionality and cultural competence, sexual health and dysfunction, and substance use disorders in women.

Here is a glimpse into abbreviated participant survey comments on some of the sessions.

Deployment Stressors Unique to Women – "This topic is so important and rarely spoken about. This webinar was very insightful and gave me more tools as a woman and a counselor."

Insomnia – "The presenters" comments provoked deeper consideration of the impact on my patients' sleep and how to integrate it into our CPT work.”

Addressing Female Sexual Dysfunction in VA and DOD – "Very engaging and informative presentation."

Healing Through Awareness/Breaking Barriers: Then and Now – She provided a rich presentation with depth and humanity.

Culturally Sensitive Care for Female Service Members and Veterans: The Role of Intersectionality – This presentation helped me not only on a professional but a personal basis to help with my understanding of issues related to gender and sexuality."

Participants will need to register on the Veterans Health Administration TRAIN website to access these online trainings and will be eligible for continuing education credits.

Registration links for each session:

1. Healing Through Awareness/Breaking Barriers: Then and Now
   https://www.train.org/vha/course/1095026/
   This training about resiliency is intended for clinicians and health care teams. Learn about Master Sgt. Parks’ traumatic experience and how determination and self-advocacy helped in her physical and mental recovery.
2. Culturally Sensitive Care for Female Service Members and Veterans: The Role of Intersectionality
   https://www.train.org/vha/course/1095027/
   This training provides an overview of cross-cultural clinical work with female service members and veterans and will help clinicians understand how intersectionality can foster greater understanding of an individual's experiences outside of treatment.
3. Women’s Mental Health Across the Lifespan
   https://www.train.org/vha/course/1095025/
   This training provides an overview of women-specific influences on mental health throughout the lifespan, from in utero influences through adolescence, pregnancy, the postpartum period, the transition to Click to closemenopauseA point in time 12 months after a woman's last period. This transitional period begins between ages 45 and 55.menopause, and aging.
4. Deployment Stressors Unique to Women
   https://www.train.org/vha/course/1095177/
   This training discusses deployment stressors unique to women, to include practical considerations of equipment and self-care, mental health stressors such as sexual assault/harassment, and relationship/family concerns.
5. Diagnosing and Treating Insomnia in Women Veterans
   https://www.train.org/vha/course/1095179/
   This training discusses general principles and application of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) with a focus on conceptualizing and adapting treatment recommendations for women.
6. Substance Use Disorders in Women
   https://www.train.org/vha/course/1095178/
   This training reviews the nature of substance use disorders, unique issues based on sex and gender, and the consequences of opioid and alcohol use disorders.
7. Addressing Female Sexual Dysfunction in VA and DoD: Research, Policy, and Clinical Considerations
   https://www.train.org/vha/course/1095228/
   This training raises awareness of the complex issues surrounding sexual dysfunction amongst female service members and veterans.
8. Depression in Women
   This training will be available soon. Please search the TRAIN website later for this link.

To receive updates related to future Women's Mental Health webinars, email our team or follow PHCoE on Facebook or Twitter.

Ms. Kuruganti is a contracted senior project coordinator at the Psychological Health Center of Excellence. She has extensive experience in global project management, process improvement, and quality assurance in the health care industry.