Building resilience, community: DAF Mental Health Overview raises awareness of available care

Published May 12, 2025
By Maristela Romero
Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs

FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- Department of the Air Force mental health leaders launched the Mental Health Overview in March 2024 and are now seeing the widespread impact of improving the DAF’s role and understanding of supporting a resilient and ready force.

Image of a group of Airmen posing for a photo. — A group of Operational Support Team providers review the targeted health care vectoring process included in the Mental Health Overview at a mental health clinic, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, February 2025. (Courtesy photo from U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Eric Meyer)

Physical and digital distribution of the overview have increased visibility and accessibility to various mental health resources for Airmen and Guardians seeking different levels of support to strengthen their resilience. The need for support can range from handling ordinary life stressors to identifying critical mental health symptoms that impair daily function.

“This overview provided us an opportunity to educate,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Elisha Pippin, director of psychological health. “Comfort in seeing mental health providers appears to have grown across the force, which contributes to our growing demand for MH services. We want to ensure all Airmen and Guardians know how the variety of resources available can best serve them. What we’re trying to do is make sure that we’re not pathologizing the human experience … every individual circumstance is different. Not everybody needs to see a therapist. Some people need to lean onto their friends, family, community, or other non-clinical resources.”

Since the Mental Health Targeted Care initiative began in 2023, Air Force leaders formalized the vectoring process at mental health clinics. Upon entering a clinic, individuals seeking mental health services are matched with the most appropriate clinical or non-clinical resources based on their specific needs. Collaborators of the overview sought to improve understanding of this process and these resources by creating a shareable, user-friendly product with clear language and engaging infographics.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col Eric Meyer, chief medical officer at Spangdahlem Air Force Base, Germany, oversaw the creation of the Mental Health Overview and shared his enthusiasm for how commonplace the overview has become on Air Force bases, military treatment facilities, mental health clinics, and among Air Force senior leaders, some of whom have carried copies to share with others during senior leadership courses.

“We didn’t need to invent a new system of mental health care. We just needed people to better understand how the system works,” Meyer said. “With a common understanding it’s much easier to collaborate and have meaningful conversations with each other, with patients, and with commanders.”

One important clarification made in the overview is differentiating between general mental health and clinical mental health - as well as delineating between non-clinical and clinical care. Prior to the overview, Meyer said the term “mental health” was often used to describe being mentally strong, being ill, getting help from a friend, or getting help from a mental health clinician - instead, it involves a multitude of different topics subject to each individual.

“We are encouraging people to take ownership of their psychological health. We all have a responsibility, and we believe the Mental Health Overview provides clarity on what is available to get you where you want to be,” Pippin said. “Mental health is the clinical component of a system of helping agencies. Providers are there ready to support the warfighter, to heal and improve so they can get back in the fight.”

With the success of the overview, Airmen and Guardians are more aware of policies and support systems aimed at ensuring their well-being and readiness. Additionally, Pippin said preliminary data suggests that targeted care’s vectoring process is effectively aligning individuals with the resources that best address their needs.

“We know humans and the reason humans seek care. They’re looking for support, for someone to listen, for someone to provide space to explore how they improve their quality of life. That’s what our mental health providers do in a safe, welcoming, compassionate manner,” she said. “We’re here to provide evidence-based interventions to return folks to the fight. We want to make sure you’re able to do your job and be a great member of your family and community.”