Register Now for the VA/DOD Women’s Mental Health Webinar Series

By Kanchana Bindu Kuruganti, MA, PMP
January 11, 2021

PHCoE chart

PHCoE and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) co-hosted the VA/DOD Women’s Mental Health Webinar Series September 22-24, 2020. The goal of this live webinar was to provide healthcare providers VA and DOD staff of the clinical knowledge and skills needed to provide gender-sensitive care to servicewomen and veterans.

More than 1,000 clinical providers, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, advanced practice nurses, registered nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists and behavioral health technicians, from the military health system and of the VA, participated for three days and the individual sessions lasted an average of more than 400 participants. The live webinar provided the opportunity for active audience participation as DOD and VA mental health attendees shared their thoughts and experiences and learned from the expertise of the speakers.

The sessions were recorded and are now available as sustainable training courses.

You can register to view and receive continuing education credits for these recorded sessions taught 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 life cycle, 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’s a look at abbreviated participant survey feedback from select sessions.

Deployment Stressors Specific to Women – “This topic is so important and rarely discussed. This webinar was very informative and gave me more tools as a woman and a counselor.”

Insomnia – Comments from the “presenters” prompted deeper thinking about the impact on my patients’ sleep and how to incorporate it into our CPT work.

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

Healing through awareness/Breaking barriers: yesterday and today – She provided a rich presentation, with depth and humanity.

Culturally Competent Care for Military Women and Veterans: The Role of Intersectionality – This presentation helped me not only professionally but also personally to help me understand issues related to gender and sexuality.

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

Registration links for each session:

1. Healing through awareness/Breaking barriers: yesterday and today
   https://www.train.org/vha/course/1095026/
   This training on resilience is aimed at clinicians and healthcare teams. Learn more about Staff Sgt. Parks’ traumatic experience and how determination and self-advocacy contributed to his physical and mental recovery.
2. Culturally Competent Care for Military Women and Veterans: The Role of Intersectionality
   https://www.train.org/vha/course/1095027/
   This training provides an overview of cross-cultural clinical work with women in the military and veterans and will help clinicians understand how intersectionality can foster a better 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 insight into women’s specific influences on mental health across the lifespan, from in utero influences through adolescence, pregnancy, the postpartum period, transition to Click to closemenopauseA moment 12 months after a woman’s last period. This transition period begins between the ages of 45 and 55.menopauseand aging.
4. Deployment Stressors Specific to Women
   https://www.train.org/vha/course/1095177/
   This training addresses deployment stressors specific to women, to include practical considerations of equipment and personal 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 addresses the general principles and application of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) with an emphasis on conceptualizing and adapting treatment recommendations for women.
6. Substance Use Disorders in Women
   https://www.train.org/vha/course/1095178/
   This training examines 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 the VA and DoD: Research, Policy, and Clinical Considerations
   https://www.train.org/vha/course/1095228/
   This training educates military and veteran women about the complex issues related to sexual dysfunction.

8. Depression in women
   This training will be available soon. Please look for this link later on the TRAIN website.

To receive updates on future women’s mental health webinars, send an email to our team or follow PHCoE on Facebook Or Twitter.

Ms. Kuruganti is a contracted Senior Project Coordinator at the Center of Excellence in Psychological Health. She has extensive experience in global project management, process improvement and quality assurance in the healthcare industry.