In one year, of the 330 calls received, 53% of the callers are military or ex-military and 47% are family members.
Created at the request of the Ministry of Defense to lift taboos on post-traumatic stress in the armed forces, the national call number “Defense listening” is celebrating its 1time year of existence. From hand-to-hand combat to exploding bombs, the events of the war remain forever etched in the memory of the military. At best, they learn to live with it, but sometimes these horror scenes lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, sometimes including anxiety disorders and can even lead to suicidal behavior. It is precisely to fight against these mental disorders in the armed forces that this free and anonymous telephone number was launched in January 2013. The principle is simple, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for psychologists from teaching hospitals armies take turns on a one-week telephone call, to listen to people in distress or those around them and to direct them to a suitable course of care.
54% of calls relate to post-traumatic stress disorder
After a peak in calls during the first months of existence, the number stabilized around one call per day on average. In a press release published on Thursday, the Ministry of Defense specifies that the number 08 08 800 321 has therefore received 330 calls in one year. 71% correspond to psychological suffering and 54% to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “Very often, these post-traumatic mental disorders are delayed in time, that is to say they do not necessarily manifest themselves immediately after the event. Nor will they appear immediately after the military returns to civilian life. Sometimes, they occur months, or even years after the encounter with death, ”confided Dr Patrick Devilllières, head of the medico-psychological service of the armed forces, in charge of the device, to Why actor last December. And as proof, 5% of callers suffering from PTSD are veterans of Algeria or Indochina. “The three most involved theaters of operation are Afghanistan, the Balkans and Mali. 80% of the calls concern soldiers from the Army, ”the statement said.
Calls from soldiers but also from relatives
“These post-traumatic mental disorders affect families in their daily life. Quite simply because the soldiers affected by these disorders will, for example, have endless nightmares of reliving the horror scene. But also flashbacks at several times of the day, added Patrick Devilllières to Why actor. And all this very often ends with a tendency to withdraw into oneself on the part of the former soldier.
For all these reasons, the family suffers to see him suffer ”. This review of the 1time year of existence of the “Ecoute Défense” number confirms this problem. While 53% of callers are military or former military, 47% are family members or relatives. Witnessing suffering, these people call to collect information and referral to care. Psychologists therefore direct them to the most suitable correspondent, primarily to caregivers from the military service or to the local civilian network.
.
