How do you define mental health? It’s more than how we think, feel and act. Mental health helps determine our ability to cope with stress, relate to the people in our lives and make day-to-day choices.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, we are placing special emphasis on the resources available to help support the mental health needs of those within the military community.

These resources are designed to assist providers with diagnosis and treatment, and increase awareness among service members, veterans and families about how to maintain mental health, cope with psychological concerns and access care.

Provider Resources:

• Co-occurring Conditions Toolkit: Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health: helps providers assess and manage patients with co-occurring mild TBI and psychological health concerns
• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) Toolkit: a compilation of paper-based tools, brochures, cards and booklets, designed to help primary care providers effectively implement the clinical practice guideline for major depressive disorder
• Management of Post-traumatic Stress: VA/DoD clinical practice guideline
• Management of Substance Use Disorders: VA/DoD clinical practice guideline

Service Member Resources:

• Real Warriors Campaign: features stories of service members who have sought treatment for psychological health concerns and continue to maintain successful military or civilian careers. You’ll also find information on a variety of military and mental health topics for veterans and families. Watch the latest video profile.
• DHCC Specialized Care Programs: Deployment Health Clinical Center provides multi-disciplinary treatment programs for service members, veterans and spouses coping with deployment-related psychological health concerns
• afterdeployment.org: offers a variety of wellness resources for service members, veterans and families to include online assessments and workshops for post-deployment challenges
• Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress: offers a variety of resources addressing the psychological effects and health impact of traumatic events like combat and natural disasters

Family Resources:

• DCoE Outreach Center: provides 24/7 support to service members, families and providers who have questions and concerns related to psychological health or traumatic brain injury. Call 866-966-1020 to connect with a health resource consultant.
• Children of Military Service Members Resource Guide: assists parents, family members and providers in addressing the mental and emotional health needs of military children by providing a variety of resources for all ages
• Psychological Health Programs and Services for Military Children

Download these resources and more from the DCoE website. Check out the latest DCoE in Action for articles that address mental health, and join the conversations on Twitter and Facebook.

Mental Health Awareness Month can help open the door for discussions about mental health and offer you the chance to show support to your warrior, battle buddy, vet, family member, co-worker or friend. We hope you’ll continue the conversations and support beyond the month of May, by sharing helpful resources and talking about the importance of maintaining mental health, all year long.

*Stay tuned for the May DCoE Monthly Webinar: Operational Stress and In-theater Care.