Sept. 28, 2017 Be there, be aware: Help prevent suicide When we focus on our health, it’s easy to pay attention to physical health versus mental well-being. Ignoring mental health concerns like anxiety and depression can lead to worsening symptoms and more serious issues. For some people, these issues may include an increased risk of suicide.
Sept. 21, 2017 Suicide Prevention Month raises awareness, promotes understanding Throughout September, organizations across the United States make efforts to raise awareness of a mental health issue affecting many demographics.
Sept. 18, 2017 Airman overcomes suicidal thoughts, strives to help others Being part of the Air Force is not an easy task. Airmen are charged with supporting and defending the U.S. from all enemies, foreign and domestic. As a result, the military life has many stressors and responsibilities. Deployments, financial strains, intensive training, long work days and adapting
Sept. 16, 2017 Resources and resiliency help children of military parents turn away from suicidal thoughts Like many teenagers starting high school, Edward was having trouble fitting in. The child of military parents who traveled around the world, Edward, whose name has been changed to protect his privacy, found himself in a new, civilian school where he was one of few “military brats.” He was admittedly
Sept. 12, 2017 Healthy Aging Awareness Month: Improving the health of older adults Health plays a huge part in how we experience life, and determining current health situations can help lead to a longer and happier life. But what about healthy aging?
Aug. 31, 2017 Suicide prevention month: Stopping suicide is everyone’s battle September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time for Americans to build awareness and help understand suicide in our culture. More than 40,000 Americans lose their life due to suicide each year and research shows that rates in the military and the general population are very close. The loss of any one
July 21, 2017 TRICARE Expands Treatment Options for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders TRICARE expanded mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services, adding intensive outpatient programs and expanding options for opioid treatment. In addition to other improvements, this expansion improves access to care and increases opportunities for mental health and SUD treatment. It
July 19, 2017 New annual Mental Health Assessment requirements Starting July 31, 2017, Airmen undergoing their annual Periodic Health Assessment may notice something new. A Mental Health Assessment will now be part of every annual PHA, to help ensure that Airmen suffering from undiagnosed mental health issues are referred to the necessary care. Mental health
June 29, 2017 Healing from invisible wounds: The other side of the story Chanda D’Angelo was in a frenzy; she quickly washed all the clothes in her home, zoomed the vacuum across every floor, wiped down every surface, cleaned out the refrigerator and stove and scrubbed the windows and mirrors until they were spotless. Exhausted, she had just enough time to get her hair
June 28, 2017 PTSD doesn’t have to be fought alone Post-traumatic stress disorder can be the result of someone experiencing an event that creates a heightened sense of terror or helplessness. PTSD can cause debilitating anxiety and fear throughout the remainder of the affected person’s life. Although PTSD may be associated with combat and the
June 22, 2017 PTSD treatment confronts the trauma behind the disorder Post-traumatic stress disorder is considered one of the “signature wounds” of the current conflicts in the Middle East. But many people may not know that there are highly effective treatments for this invisible wound being deployed at Air Force hospitals and clinics today. It’s normal to feel
June 21, 2017 Connection saves lives: be there to help prevent suicide You can make a difference for someone struggling with suicidal thoughts with as little as eye contact and a friendly smile, an arm around the shoulder, or a kind word at the right time. Everyone has a role to play in preventing suicide, a key theme of the Department of Defense’s #BeThere Campaign,
May 25, 2017 Scott Air Force Base recognizes Mental Health Awareness Month Since 1949, May has been observed as National Mental Health Awareness Month, an opportunity to bring about greater awareness of psychological health concerns and conditions, to offer support for those who are living with these conditions, and to promote increased access to care and treatment.This
May 24, 2017 Airmen Resiliency Team provides 480th ISR Wing with medical, psychological and spiritual care Airmen of the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing make life or death decisions every day to support warfighters around the world. To alleviate stress from these missions, the Air Force deployed a small group of medical, psychological and spiritual professionals called the Airmen
May 12, 2017 Don’t suffer alone - mental health disorders have effective treatments Mental health disorders are relatively common within civilian and military communities, but with early treatment, most mental health disorders can be effectively treated, and patients can return to mental wellness. While invisible wounds like post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury
March 3, 2017 Comprehensive Airman Fitness: Mental stability For a machine to function properly, the screws must be set, balance maintained and gaskets must be in good repair. Maybe that’s why mental instability is often characterized as having a loose screw, being out of balance or blowing a gasket. Recognized as one of the four domains of Comprehensive
Feb. 22, 2017 I lost my son: Airman turns tragedy into therapy through resilience Following the unexpected death of her youngest son, Jeremiah, she became reckless. She was drinking daily and didn’t care whether she lived or died. It took a failed suicide attempt and court-ordered therapy for her life to change.
Dec. 20, 2016 Managing Mental Health over the Holidays Holidays are a time when families come together to eat good food and spend quality time. They also can be a time of stress whether you are worried about having enough money, hosting the largest family get-together of the year, or traveling long distances.According to the Centers for Disease Control
June 25, 2016 PTSD Awareness leads to positive treatment Post-traumatic Stress Disorder can be debilitating in some patients, but thanks to advancements in research and the continued training of mental health providers, treatments are getting better all the time.Maj. Joel Foster, Chief of Air Force Deployment Mental Health, said treating PTSD has improved
June 17, 2016 AF medical leader discusses suicide prevention program improvements Maj. Gen. Dorothy Hogg, the Air Force Deputy Surgeon General, met with the House Armed Services Committee’s Military Personnel Subcommittee June 15 to provide an update on the Air Force’s suicide prevention program. “Air Force suicide prevention starts with leadership at every level,” Hogg said