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Q1.  What is an MHAT? How many have been conducted?

A1.  The MHAT is a mental health advisory team that deploys to the theater of operations (Iraq) to assess the mental and behavioral health of deployed Soldiers; the quality of mental and behavioral health care; access to this care; and to make recommendations for changes to improve the mental health and mental health services to our men and women who are deployed in support of GWOT.  Four have been conducted, three in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.  The Afghanistan MHAT is currently being staffed.  What’s remarkable and historical about the MHATs is that rather than waiting for this war to end and examining these issues at that time, the US Army and the AMEDD leadership have committed to providing the best BH/MH care possible and have taken the initiative to deploy these health care specialists into combat zones and to make improvements as soon as possible to better serve our Soldiers.

Q2.  What is the significance of MHATs?

A2.  MHAT I and MHAT II collected data from Soldiers engaged in direct combat and the units that supported the Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) were the focus of MHAT III.  MHAT III also surveyed and interviewed Soldiers engaged in advising and training Iraqi forces.  These Soldiers are assigned to the Multinational Security Transition Command – Iraq (MNSTC-I).  The unique aspect of their training mission and the fact that many of these Soldiers are serving in potentially high stress assignments warranted their inclusion in this MHAT assessment.

Q3.  When/where was MHAT III conducted? MHAT I and MHAT II?

A3.  MHAT III was conducted in Iraq, 23 Oct – 23 Nov 2005.
MHAT II was conducted in Iraq, September and October 2004 and
MHAT I was conducted in Iraq, September and October 2003.