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  • Michelle Pennington, 104th Fighter Wing director of psychological health.

    Director of psychological health dedicated to normalizing mental health

    Michelle Pennington, 104th Fighter Wing director of psychological health, has been involved in social work since she was a child. She now works to promote mental health awareness for members of the 104 FW and their families, and ultimately improve their quality of life.
  • Chief Master Sgt. Eric Corvin, 49th Maintenance Group Quality Assurance superintendent, sought PTSD treatment with the 49th Medical Group on Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. He enrolled in a 12-week program, which focused on the many aspects of PTSD and ways of coming to terms with the issues it causes. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christine Groening)

    Seeking mental health treatment: 49th Maintenance Group chief shares his experience with PTSD

    “Dealing with a traumatic event from 2011 in Afghanistan, I realize now that I probably needed help long before 2018, but at the time I felt like I’d figured out how to control the ghosts in my head. I forced myself to keep them at bay, and instead of dealing with my problems, I just let them fester,” recalled Chief Master Sgt. Eric Corvin, 49th Maintenance Group Quality Assurance superintendent, as he opened up about his post-traumatic stress disorder.

  • Tech. Sgt. McLean: Overcoming depression

    Dim lights shined on a dark path as a young man followed his guide toward a wooden elevator, which rested on the edge of a deep, seemingly endless cavern. Nerves begin to take over as the young explorer thought of what was to come. The cart begins its descent into the darkness, becoming immersed in the shadows, eliminating all sight and heightening the rest of his senses in a pointless attempt to gather any bearing. Being completely surrounded by darkness, the feeling of a heavy discomfort overtakes the young man who then, out of curiosity, reaches his hand out to find that he is completely surrounded by nothing. Through his experiences in that dark cave, this is how Tech. Sgt. Garry McLean describes his battle with depression.
  • Mental health providers rely on leadership engagement to provide the necessary support warfighters require to remain ready and resilient throughout their deployment. (U.S. Air Force illustration by Josh Mahler)

    Mental health providers, leadership partner for deployment resiliency, readiness

    Deployed mental health providers work closely with leadership to help maintain warfighter resiliency and readiness. Service members are away from their usual support systems during deployment, and because the environment and stress puts them in unusual situations, they require innovative and flexible forms of mental health care.
  • While service members are medically ready to deploy, both physically and mentally, the rigors of deployment can take a toll. Mental health providers in deployed settings play a vital role in providing the necessary support to ensure the health of the warfighter and the mission. (U.S. Air Force illustration by Josh Mahler)

    Deploying mental health care downrange

    Deployed mental health providers play a vital role in delivering medical care downrange, ensuring the health of the warfighter and the mission. Even though service members who deploy are medically ready, both physically and mentally, the rigors of deployment can take a toll.
  • Lt. Col. Craig Morash, 74th Fighter Squadron commander, prepares to hug his children after returning from a deployment, Jan. 26, 2018, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The well-being of children is paramount to Airmen readiness for deployment. While most children are resilient and can handle the changes that come when a parent deploys, some children face challenges. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Eugene Oliver)

    Resilient kids, ready Airmen

    One thing Airmen worry about when they deploy is the well-being of their family, especially children who may have a hard time coping with the challenges that come with a parent’s deployment. The impact of deployment on children is a key component of Airmen readiness. Knowing their family is well helps Airmen focus on the mission.
  • The symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can often be debilitating, significantly affecting a patient’s quality of life. Air Force mental health professionals have successfully treated many Airmen with the use of prolonged exposure therapy. Through this collaborative therapy, the patient is safely and gradually exposed to trauma-related memories and situations that have been avoided. The eventual goal is to alter the patient’s relationship with and reaction to the traumatic event so it no longer affects their quality of life and ability to do their job. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Josh Mahler)

    A peek behind the curtain: Prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD

    Post-traumatic stress disorder can be debilitating, but there are therapies that can reduce symptoms, improve quality of life, and help Airmen return to duty. One of the most effective therapies, practiced by many Air Force mental health professionals, is prolonged exposure therapy.
  • Many Airman are unaware what the initial meeting with a mental health provider looks like when they seek PTSD treatment. The goal of the first meeting is to make the patient feel comfortable and to be as transparent as possible about what is going on and what treatment options the patient has. As a result, the patient and mental health provider will more likely have a collaborative and trusting interaction, making PTSD treatment more successful. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Josh Mahler)

    A peek behind the curtain: The first step of PTSD care

    Perhaps the most difficult part of seeking help for post-traumatic stress disorder is making that first appointment, since Airmen are often unsure of what to expect. Not knowing what to expect from mental health providers can get in the way of effective PTSD treatment.
  • Those that suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are consistently trying to regain some sense of the normalcy they had before events that caused pieces of themselves to go missing. Misconceptions and stigmas surrounding PTSD get in the way of successful recovery and the ability to return to duty. (U.S. Air Force illustration by Master Sgt. William Vance)

    A peek behind the curtain: PTSD barriers and stigmas

    Effective treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder is possible, but many Airmen falsely think seeking medical help for PTSD will hurt their career and will not help them get better. These stigmas and misconceptions create perceived barriers, preventing Airmen from seeking care. Delaying treatment can cause the anxiety and fear following a traumatic event to affect an Airman’s readiness.
  • Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Garrison, 28th Medical Operations Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of the mental health clinic, separates blocks for a team building exercise with the human performance team at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., May 9, 2018. The chapel and mental health clinic went out in human performance teams to connect with Airmen and provide information on the different ways to improve their mental resiliency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nicolas Z. Erwin)

    Breaking down the image: Mental health

    Life in the military can be stressful for anyone from a pipeline Airman to a general officer. Fortunately, the 28th Medical Group Mental Health Clinic provides services for Airmen in need.
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