VILSECK, Germany -- Embedded Behavioral Health providers are becoming more common among Army Medicine. The Bavaria Medical Department Activity participates in the program by providing Behavioral Health providers to some units in its footprint.

The 412th Aviation Support Battalion, based out of Katterbach, has one embedded behavioral health provider, Jamie Moore, who works with the unit every day. Her office is located within their complex of buildings, and she sees Soldiers from the unit for a variety of behavioral healthcare and therapy needs.

"I love this model (of embedded behavioral health)," she said. "It gives Soldiers a consistent provider and a consistent point of contact for the chain of command. It communicates a common goal between the Army and Behavioral Health -- we all are working together toward Soldier readiness."

In March, when the unit came to the Grafenwoehr training area for a month-long rotation in the field, they decided to bring Moore along for part of it.

The benefit of an embedded BH provider going to the field for the training exercise is two-fold, she said.

"Someone who is normally seen once a week could miss out on their appointments during a month-long training. This allows Soldiers to continue their training obligations and be able to get the care they need."

She was able to see existing patients during her time here in the field, which equaled to about 5 days total, as well as see others who may have been having a hard time being in that environment for different reasons.

"This environment is anxiety-provoking," she said. "I like helping people cope with that anxiety instead of avoiding what?'s causing it. I emphasize 'you don't just avoid things you don't like, you figure out how to deal with them.'"

She said going to the field gives her a better picture of what that environment is like for her patients.

Embedded behavioral health teams are cropping up all over the Army, from larger units to smaller locations, to give Soldiers the continuity and peace of mind that staying with the same BH provider can offer.

"It becomes more normalized to see me around every day, and becomes a part of general fitness," she said. "Soldiers see people who they perceive as high-functioning and it?'s not that big a deal that they are seeing Behavioral Health, too. It doesn't become this big 'weird' thing to be getting help -- that does a lot for stigma."

The Embedded Behavioral Health team with the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade at Katterbach currently includes Moore and one social worker, and they will be adding a psychologist in May.

The unit as a whole benefits from the Embedded BH team. The chain of command is able to gain valuable insight into trends they may need to address.

"It is still 100 percent private to see me and I talk to the Soldiers about their own personal things," she said. "But if I notice overall trends, I can communicate that to the chain of command. They are receptive and have asked for insight. There are Behavioral Health assessments for different jobs, and I can fill them in on those regulations."

Moore has been with this unit since her arrival in Katterbach in November. Before that, she worked in Baumholder since her arrival in Germany three years ago. She has been a psychologist since 2009. She and her husband, Ryan, a high school teacher, are natives of St. Paul, Minnesota.

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