Improved Lives

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the army has decided to begin using the training provided by positive psychologists to better protect and sustain the mental health of troops in combat situations:

Worried about rising suicide rates and thousands of soldiers with posttraumatic stress disorder, the Army is launching the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program to help 1.1 million soldiers and their families cope more effectively with the stress of military life and combat.

Say what you will about the army, they seem to have their member’s best interests in mind and are not at all afraid to innovate and try something new. I know that they’re developing a lot of alternative fuel technologies too, which is very forward thinking of them. It’s that forward thinking attitude that I wish more big organizations (governments maybe?) would adopt.

Army sergeants may have a tough-guy image, but University of Pennsylvania psychologist Martin Seligman thinks they’re in a perfect position to teach their fellow soldiers how to better handle emotions.

That is why sergeants – the line teachers of the Army – will be the first to receive resiliency training when a new project designed to revamp the Army’s approach to mental health rolls out next month. Fifty noncommissioned officers will go to Penn’s campus for a week of training by staff of the Positive Psychology Center, which Seligman directs. After that, 300 will arrive in November and December. They will take what they’ve learned about preventing psychological problems and living more fulfilling lives back to their troops, Seligman said.

Have you subscribed yet?