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SICK PARADE - Take a deep breath
By SQNLDR Kay Hatton
Edition 1176, October 4, 2007 |
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Control: Asthma is managable.
Photo by Cpl Mike McSweeney |
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The ADF has recently changed entry medical standards for applicants with asthma.
People with well-controlled, mild, persistent or intermittent asthma can now join the ADF. These members are allocated a Medical Employment Classification (MEC) 2, and will be able to undertake recruit and initial employment training.
In line with these changes, members with well-controlled asthma will be medically fit for operational deployment with some caveats, such as the need to deploy with appropriate medication and medical support, depending on their Service.
The entry standard for specialist employment categories has not changed.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways, causing recurrent symptoms, including wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing, particularly at night or in the early morning. Excessive airway narrowing and airflow obstruction are caused by contraction of the airway smooth muscle and inflammation of the wall of the airway. Common triggers for the inflammatory process in asthma include: allergy, viral respiratory infections, some medications and non-specific stimuli such as cold air exposure and exercise.
Don’t ignore signs
Asthma is a manageable condition. By developing an action plan and working with your doctor to manage your asthma, you remain in control. Early diagnosis and treatment provide you with the best possible outcome. Ignoring symptoms or warning signs can result in serious consequences, including death. If you are concerned that you may be exhibiting signs and symptoms of asthma, see your doctor for a comprehensive assessment.
Take control
Management strategies for any situation form the basis of an asthma action plan. This personalised action plan is developed in consultation with your doctor and is tailored to your individual needs. Around 10 per cent of ADF members currently have asthma. All ADF members with asthma should have an asthma action plan, which will help them recognise if their asthma is getting worse and be able to take steps to prevent further deterioration.
Be proactive
Education and compliance with treatment are key factors in the management of asthma, and have led to a much lower incidence of serious illness as a result. Self-education about the nature of the disease helps sufferers understand the need for different types of medication in asthma management. It is your responsibility to take a proactive approach to the management of your asthma and be in control. It is important to know what triggers asthma, to avoid these triggers wherever possible and to recognise the warning signs that indicate when the condition is deteriorating, and take the appropriate action.
The policies outlining the revised standards for asthma in the ADF are:
Health Bulletin 2/2007 Standards for Entry to the ADF for Applicants Diagnosed with Asthma. Health Directive 283 The Management of Asthma in the ADF. DEFGRAM 430/2007 New Entry and Serving Standards for Personnel with Asthma.
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A social tragedy
In the lead-up to World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, MAJ Kelly Gall, Directorate of Mental Health, explains about suicide’s effects. |
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Suicide is often thought of as an individual issue, an individual act, yet the links we have to others ensure the impact extends to friends, family and colleagues.
For those close to those who suicide, the act often leaves a legacy. Emotional reactions can range from anger, resentment, confusion, remorse, apathy and guilt to feelings that things have been left unresolved. These feelings can be directed at the person who committed suicide, towards themselves, or towards others within the member’s social networks and may affect current and future relationships.
A suicide can change the way people act towards a friend, family member or acquaintance in need, making them more caring or even causing them to back away. A suicide can lead a supervisor to be overly cautious in managing people with mental health conditions.
Even when we think that a suicide does not affect us, it often does. Seeing how others react to a suicide of a person we don’t know can influence our reactions to suicides in the future, our attitudes towards mental illness, or our inclination to seek help for mental health problems.
We are almost always unable to fully appreciate what the person who suicided was experiencing, and unable to justify their course of action. When we don’t understand others, we find it difficult to identify with them and tend to focus on ways in which we are not alike.
We each play a role in creating our social environment and, although it might not be our instinctive reaction, we can choose to focus on the ways in which we are all alike. We each can choose not to perpetuate or listen to rumours and gossip about members who may not be coping so well. We can choose to make the ADF an environment where people are encouraged to seek help for mental health concerns, negative life events and problematic relationships.
Raising awareness of suicide and mental health issues is a good first step. We all have to sit through mental health training, so use this time to think about how what is discussed relates to you, your partner, your family, your friends and your workmates. Think about how you would like these people to be treated when they are not coping well.
The ADF Suicide Prevention Program offers two further courses specific to suicide: the Keep Your Mates Safe – Suicide Prevention Training (KYMS-SPT) is a two-hour course for all unit members that aims to provide personnel with a greater ability to identify when someone is at risk and to refer them to first aid and health care. Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is the next level of training and is aimed at those in supervisory or leadership roles, members of the health services and chaplains. ASIST teaches people how to identify those at risk and provide an initial “first aid” response. To be panelled on these courses, apply through your chain of command.
| WHERE TO GET HELP |
| Who can you contact when you or a workmate needs help? Your chain of command, your local medical or psychology personnel or your chaplain can all help to link people with appropriate support. The All-Hours-Support Line operates 24/7 and is able to help you link with appropriate support in your location. Phone 1800 628 036 (free call within Australia) or (02) 9425 3878 (outside Australia). |
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