What’s on this page…
Combat Stress, Anxiety, PTSD and Resiliency
MHC Overview
Genesis
Stats from the MBV Program Field Study
Objectives
Founder Bio
Combat Stress, Anxiety, PTSD and Resiliency
Resiliency programming taught well and techniques that have been
integrated into daily practice by an agency's individuals is an insurance
policy. Wellness levels maintained mean less down time, sick time,
infighting, unproductivity at work, toxic workplace behaviour etc.
All agencies therefore, have a vested interest in investing in
results-driven programs.
Anxiety, PTSD and CPTSD in the general population and Combat
Stress Injury in all of its manifestations that are many, not only manifest in
high suicide rates but in divorce and domestic violence, inability to work,
alcoholism and substance abuse, ruined relationships with kids, missed
promotions...
This pandemic of anxiety can be eradicated through simple means
such as those included in MHC programs.
The military environment is a team environment made up of individuals. Their development personally and professionally is critical for success in all domains.
Self Awareness >Self Discipline > Self Regulation > Self
Actualization
Many current resiliency-based programs are focused on awareness
and measurement of external conditions, for example, sleep patterns including
light, temperature and restless movement during sleep cycles. Having an
assessment monitor strapped to your body measuring your sleep patterns,
provides interesting data points regarding the existing conditions and your
response to those conditions. It didn't fix the broken sleep problem.
The MBV Program has been shown to actually improve quality of
sleep.
This level of problem solving is the basis for MHC programming.
MHC Overview
MHC’s industry segment is the security realm, including currently
serving and former military , law enforcement, emergency response and private
military personnel; the Leadership, owners and influencers of that realm and
its public supporters including Veteran organizations, associations, tactical
support innovators, producers, researchers etc.
MHC’s clients tend to be individuals who are MIL/LE/ER/PMC
personnel who are fed up, have bottomed out, run the gamut, self medicated in
every way known to man, and now want a simple life altering system to get
clean, squared up and healthy, leveled up and operationally effective again or
better then ever.
MHC is a for profit private company, not a charity or
Not-for-profit. It is a training company with a primary focus of relevant
and impactful training processes. This training is provided through
discrete and digital as well as old school in -class training options.
MHC relies heavily on word-of-mouth referrals and push marketing
because personnel often trust each other’s opinions over all else.
MHC’s superpower is creating pathways to mental mastery, a
much-used, undervalued and little understood concept that is imperative to
healing and recovery, increasing battlefield intuition and jacking up
performance.
MHC is not for those who want to remain as victims, toxic Vets,
people who like being codependent on meds, immersed in bad relationships and
train wrecks or who want to defend their position and ‘bad’ thinking patterns
and behaviours instead of moving forward which means – doing the work.
MHC programming is for those who want to level up and get better.
MHC Milestones
TTC - MHC was the first to coin the term Tactical Trauma Counselling, identifying the need to develop a coaching/counselling process that could be as comfortable as possible and effective for personnel to get from where they were to where they needed to be. This process is available in person and via skype worldwide. For more information connect here.
"I am no longer suicidal because of you." C.M., US Army
TTSCT -
MHC developed and piloted in three countries (Can./US/UK) a unique in-class
program that has received excellent reviews from attendees. Check out the
training page for more information then connect for a full training overview.
"The course was very unique and taught a holistic approach to
stress management. This is the right course to teach to prepare personnel
to learn to effectively deal with cumulative and acute stress."
Robert D. Jenkins, Maj. MI, NJARNG, US Military
MBV -
Based on recommendations from the US Marine Corps field manual on Combat
Stress, the MBV Program was tested in the only Joint Can/US police stress study
with 112 officers from both countries. Stats are up on the Weapons Pkg.
page. The MBV Program is the basis of the Weapons Pkg., a self-contained,
deployment-ready resource for personnel to level up and dial down, learning
simple exercises they can use immediately. Tested. Proven.
See more testimonials on the Training Feedback page.
Community Event - "A Walk for the Troops"
In 2010, MHC's Founder, Angela Benedict, created and managed all
aspects of a multiple day, 200 km walk to raise awareness about Combat Stress
from Canadian Forces Base Trenton through Toronto and ending at CFB Borden.
Genesis
MHC, established in Ontario, Canada in 2009, is the creation
of Angela C. Benedict; educator, program developer, recovery specialist and
expert on overcoming PTSD/CPTSD.
After spending several years working with survivors of abuse and
refining her practice Angela began working with military and law enforcement
personnel delivering her unique prespective and presentation on a number of
self development issues such as dealing with anger, fear, finding creative
solutions to ongoing problems and helping people level up.
MHC's training platform really began with
the MBV Program; Meditations, Breathing Techniques and Visualizations which was
based on US Military Combat Stress requirements as outlined in the United
States Marine Corps and US Army Field Manuals on Combat Stress.
According to these field manuals as well
as in civlian literature, there are three primary dial-down strategies
personnel must have to stay level and effective - meditations, breathing
techniqus and visualizations - MBV. When Marines were asked if they were
being trained in these three skills, they said no, in fact, they replied with -
"We have a field manual on Combat Stress?" There was definitely
a gap between expectations and training realities. MHC created the MBV
Program as a bridging component to fill that gap.
This program was designed for deployed
military personnel who were resistant to ask for help with their operational
stress, who may not have had easy access to professional psych services while
in the field, wanted a program to use for themselves, by themselves that was
discrete and got results quickly.
The MBV Program has been tested in the
only joint US/Canadian stress study to be conducted and has proven this program
can save careers, marriages and lives.
Stats from the MBV Program Field Study
If 84% of your workforce saw a significant
improvement in operational effectiveness in less than 4 weeks, how would
that change your workplace?
In 2011 a field study was conducted with a
sample of 112 police officers across the United States and Canada.
The majority of personnel had 10-15 years
(23%) of service, followed by ten years or less (29%), more than ten years
(47%). 39% of all officers had prior military service, most having served for
3-5 years. 72.2% of all officers were front line patrol, 27.8% members of SWAT
or other Rapid Response Teams, 25% sex crimes; property crimes 23.1%, missing
persons 22.2%, narcotics 19.4%; sex crimes against children 19.4%
(That's not meant to equal 100% because
many officers worked multiple divisions, but it gives you a good idea that all
of these officers have been on the "going end of the business".)
The methodology of the study included
entrance and exit surveys and personal logs of officers where they documented
and reported weekly on any differences they noted the MBV Program had on their
performance, health, relationships etc.
At the end of study 84% of officers stated
that operational effectiveness had improved based on new sleep levels and 84%
saw improved effectiveness based on new stress levels. 91.7% stated that
the MBV Program was responsible for improvement in effectiveness. 92% stated
that they felt improvement would likely continue with continued use of the MBV
Program.
Lessons learned from the MBV Program
development and testing become the basis for an in-class training program;
TTSCT, Tactical Trauma Self Care Training.
The MBV Program had to meet or exceed a
success criteria -
· discrete,
· cost
effective,
· easy
to learn,
· takes
less than an hour,
· exercises
easily integrate and compliment what personnel are already doing.
Percentage of
Officers
Outcome
84%
increase in sleep
quality
68%
increase in length of sleep
72%
decrease in number of times waking up
92%
easier to get to sleep
84%
sleep
is more restful
76%
energy levels have
improved
92%
relaxation increased
76%
communication/thinking seems less
cloudy
72%
mind seems less cluttered
92%
general improvement in overall mood
58%
feelings of anger
of less
often
60%
feelings of anger are less intense
60%
feelings of sadness are less often
48%
feelings
of sadness are less intense
48%
pain in neck/shoulders occurs less
often
52%
pain in neck/shoulders less intense
46%
muscle pain in general occurs less often
44%
muscle pain in general seems less intense
76%
interactions
with others
improved
92%
general wellness has improved
These results were obtained through
minimal use, listening to the program ONCE a week for 4 weeks.
For maximum benefit the exercises
contained in the MBV Program should be done as part of a DAILY routine.
Imagine the results you could get then?
From the MBV Program came TTSCT, Tactical
Trauma Self Care Training.
This training is pre-emptive, proactive
training delivering new perspectives and preventative measures to mitigate
suicide and high levels of Combat and Operational Stress Reaction.
For generations we have been told that Combat Stress is part of
war and there is nothing we can do about falling victim to it. Today we
know that we can not only fight against the symptoms of Combat Stress - we can
win.
Mental health experts have led the public to believe that they, as
experts in the field, are essential, as are the drug and behaviour modification
therapies they subscribe to. Simple-to-use practices that can be done
independently by personnel disrupt the entire mental health industry.
This disruption is needed and timely as many 'lay people' are stepping out as
the real experts and pathmasters who have found their best practices in finding
"through and out."
MHC isn't only interested in creating awesome programming to take
on Combat Stress and win. That's a priority but going beyond the norm is
where is gets really juicy. The same techniques that reduce high level
anxiety, also create the conditions needed for increased productivity,
increased well being and health levels, and increased emotional intelligence
resulting in an increase in intuitive hits that you can count on - another
critical factor to mission success, battlefield intuition.
MHC has been at the fore since 2009, seeking out the "Pareto
Principle" techniques that make the most difference to military, first
responders and other security professionals.
Objectives
1. Create and deploy one comprehensive training program to
accomplish;
a) Decrease PTSD/CPTSD, Operational Stress Injury
b) Increase operational effectiveness
c) Increase battlefield intuition
utilizing the same process. Status - Complete
2. Create not only life-altering in class training, but relevant,
practical, effective, deployment ready, simple-to-use training components that
work in the field as well as at home and can be used independently. This
program must standardize training across branches, agencies and for both active
personnel and support civilians. Status – Complete
In class training has been the norm for generations, but is not
cost effective, logistically feasible, and as effective as having a digital
delivery that can be sent to all personnel regardless of where they are
stationed, deployed in a matter of hours to large groups, standardizes training
across the security platform, can be referred to over and over by personnel as
a guide and creates significant positive change in a hurry. The Weapons
Pkg. was created to fill this training gap.
3. Achieve aim of meeting critical mass metric of 25% of all
personnel, all agencies and units consistently using the MBV Program on a daily
basis to achieve maximum results.
Status - Ongoing.
Some departments have done complete coverage, mostly individuals
have stumbled upon this resource or heard through word of mouth. Hundreds
of personnel have their copy of the Weapons Pkg. or the original MBV
Program. Definitely, there is a need to get more Weapons Pkg. digital
downloads moving out.
Here's why.
"As a police officer of almost 13 years, I have seen and been privy to some horrific scenes. Up until about two years ago, our agency provided no critical incident de-briefings and it was ultimately up to individual officers to seek out support or mental health counselling.
Since high school, I have also suffered from insomnia which I never sought treatment for. I self medicated with over the counter sleep aids or with alcohol to help me sleep. I was in need of something to get myself healthier and better focused. This program couldn't have come to me at a better time.
I was the supervisor of a child abuse case that had resulted in
the death of a 21 month-old boy and was having problems sleeping for months
after. I had tried all the usual remedies to no avail. After being
selected to the field test for the MBV Program, I can tell you my experience
was life changing. Since using the MBV Program, my insomnia has greatly
diminished, my use of sleep aids and alcohol has been replaced with these
techniques.
It took approximately six weeks to feel completely comfortable with the techniques and to use them as I needed to appropriately. It's a system that is easily learned, but it is training - you must put in the work to get the results back! I would adamantly recommend this program to any of my fellow officers, all First Responders and to members of our Armed Forces. It truly has been an effective system for me and I can't find one single reason not to recommend it. For both my personal and professional well being I have not found a more comprehensive system to clear my head and make things easier to deal with." Andrew Hadley, US Police Officer, Colorado
For more testimonials go to the Training
Feedback page.
In the above officer's story, how awesome is it that he was able
to not only kick an addiction to sleep meds and alcohol that had been ongoing
for years - but do that in six weeks! That's the kind of change MHC is
about.
4. Once personnel overcome PTSD and know how to increase
operational effectiveness and intuition, they can become part of a team which
uses our combined knowledge of trauma recovery and leadership to create
community development projects to bring widespread recovery to traumatized
areas and populations including civilians. Status - In process.
Gathering team members of TTSCT alumni and others who have
successfully fought their own 'battle against the Beast' of PTSD and won and
want to fuse their personal experience with MHC programming and leadership best
practices. Join the MHC team. Connect here for more
information.
If you have ideas for MHC programming, consider joining the
Advisory Group or send your comments through the contact form. (top left corner
on main page, click the three bars) Really good stuff will be posted on
the Message Board as well. Looking forward to your input.
Founder Bio Angela C. Benedict
"You will be hard pressed to find someone as passionate and
determined as Angela Benedict when it comes to helping veterans and serving
members of the military, first responder and the law enforcement
community. She has selflessly taken on the responsibility to provide
enhanced training and awareness of operational stress issues, and the methods
to mitigate the effects of stress, while helping warriors further develop
their skills of self awareness and resilience. For those who are familiar
with programs such as the Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR, Canadian Army) and
who wish to continue with their training in a more discreet or personalized
manner, Angela's Weapons Package is a very useful resource. Additionally,
for those who are continuing to work in high stress environments and who wish
to conduct a deep dive on the common approaches to mental health training
programs that are out there, Angela's training program is a good resource to
consider. Through her passion and commitment to mindfulness training
and awareness programs, Angela will provide a unique and personal touch that
will assist any professional involved in the skill at arms, law enforcement or
emergency response. I recommend checking out her programs and engaging
Angela." LCol. Nick Grimshaw (Ret) Canadian Forces
Angela is an author, advocate and trainer,
blending two decades of training experience with her specialist knowledge of
trauma and recovery. She holds degrees in Education and History, and is an
advocate for security personnel well-being across sectors. Angela’s specialized
knowledge includes; anxiety, recovery processes, mindfulness, empowerment and
transitioning and she has a unique way of making personnel feel safe and
confident in her ability to move them out of ‘bad places’ into clarity and
healing.
As a performance enhancement specialist,
Angela assists in teaching mental mastery which is absolutely crucial to
fine-tune the skills that allow soldiers to perform successfully, whether it be
in preparation of a combat deployment, or in their personal lives.
Soldiers are well prepared in terms of tactical
and physical training, but may need to add a deliberate and succinct mental
training process that not only decrease PTSD and CPTSD symptomology but are
integral to mission success, the MBV Program as an example, clearly being used
to improve shooting skills demonstrating a broad range of applications.
Developing mental mastery amounts to
giving Soldiers another weapon, a weapon they’ll always have, and that they can
use to achieve the end result, success with all that they are asked to do.
