A taste of combat to help soldiers

EAST GREENWICH, R.I. (WPRI) -- When soldiers come home from war, many times they need help with emotional stress. And now, in an attempt to better help war veterans cope, a group of community health care providers is getting a better idea of life on the front lines.

They are taking part in Operation Immersion, which brings together workers from the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH) as well as healthcare workers statewide, to train with the Rhode Island National Guard at Camp Fogarty in East Greenwich.

Psychiatrists, social workers and others need to get a glimpse at life in the military to better relate to the civilian soldier and his or her difficulties.

After all, life coming back home can be no end of stress too -- lack of jobs, lack of housing, even a lack of family support, perhaps going through a divorce, to add to the mix of getting over what's seen in combat.

A large portion of the behavioral health services for the National Guard is provided for though a $9 million federal grant called Access to Recovery.