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Mental Health Care, Mental Wellness
The nature of the mission and duties of a service member can bring a considerable amount of stress. From meeting the expectations of fellow soldiers and command to being a good parent or dealing with financial worries, the psychological toll can be high.
“A person’s physical and mental health serve as the foundation of their total well-being,” said U.S. Public Health Service Capt. Robert DeMartino, director of Mental Health Policy for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. “Our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines can’t serve themselves, their families or their country if they aren’t in the best mental health that they can be. When a service member breaks a rib, there is no doubt that medical treatment is the first priority. When a service member has flashbacks or feels hopeless or has thoughts that friends and family would be better off if he were dead, there should be no doubt that treatment is a priority.”
DeMartino said a critical moment occurs when a service member recognizes the need to speak to professionals who are trained and ready to help. “The available services are meant to provide you the assistance you need or get you to the right place for care,” he said. “Some may find the many choices a bit overwhelming, but the bottom line is that there is no wrong door to access help. Each member can choose the door he or she feels most comfortable with.”
“When I was deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, my unit suffered a considerable number of casualties, and it hit me pretty hard,” said Marine 1st Sgt. Simon Sandoval. “I began drinking heavily and withdrawing from my family. I also began to blame myself, wondering if I had done some things differently, would my fellow Marines still be alive? Then I got involved with Operational Stress Control and Readiness (OSCAR) training, and it allowed me to open up about some things, and talk about the pain and emotional toll those experiences had on me.”
OSCAR is just one of many available outlets. DeMartino urged beneficiaries to learn more about mental health services within reach by visiting websites for Military One Source, the Defense Centers of Excellence (DCoE) Psychological Health Resources and the Deployment Health Clinical Center.
“Stress can be a normal reaction to the pressures of whatever situation a service member is dealing with,” said DeMartino. “When this stress affects their ability to function well in one or more aspects of their lives, it may require a professional helping hand. And that assistance can come in many different forms. It could be from friends and family, because this is often the first place people go to talk about what’s bothering them. It could be from military and family life counselors and chaplains, who are present on nearly all installations. Or it could be anonymously via phone, chat, video or face-to-face through Military One Source.”
DeMartino highlighted that a crisis doesn’t have to be at hand. “Sometimes it’s good just to be able to talk to someone about situations you deal with every day,” he said.
Overall, DeMartino feels the Military Health System is doing a great deal to make beneficiaries aware of the services that are available, and there should be no hesitation to use them. “If we can encourage people to take that first step, then we are just a half-step away from finding the right level of help they require,” he said. “Whether it is to contact Military One Source, or speak to a friend or family member, or to reach out to a military chaplain. We are fortunate to be part of an incredible caring community and have access to the best helping professionals. Not one of us needs to make this journey alone.”