martes, 2 de mayo de 2017

Reducing stigma of mental health care supports overall wellness | Health.mil

Reducing stigma of mental health care supports overall wellness | Health.mil
Health.mil

Reducing stigma of mental health care supports overall wellness

USPHS Capt. Robert DeMartino, director of Mental Health Policy for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
USPHS Capt. Robert DeMartino, director of Mental Health Policy for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, shares insight on the importance of raising awareness for mental health and the need for ongoing, open conversations on the topic.

If you broke your arm, came down with pneumonia, or your child had a severe earache, you wouldn’t think twice about going to the doctor and getting treatment. Maintaining our health and receiving effective treatment for ourselves and our loved ones is a duty and responsibility. But what if the injury isn’t accompanied by physical pain, an x-ray finding, or an abnormal lab test? What is our duty and responsibility when it comes to good mental health?
Too often, service members, retirees, and their family members suffer the pain of stress, sadness, and worry without considering seeking care. And while some pains, like a simple headache, can be easily cared for at home, others require the attention of caregivers who can guide you toward relief and recovery. During Mental Health Awareness Month, leaders and health care providers in the Military Health System are stressing that mental health is as important as physical health. This year’s theme, “Let’s talk about it,” encourages a conversation about mental health to reduce the stigma and encourage seeing care.
Mental health is not a luxury. It affects our quality of life and our ability to accomplish the mission at hand. Our culture stigmatizes mental health conditions and seeking treatment, but we can chip away at this stigma by examining our own beliefs about mental health and challenging ourselves to consider what health is without mental health.
In the MHS, we actively promote available resources, and encourage everyone to get the help they need. The DoD’s commitment to health care is evident through mental health assessments, counseling, family support services, and treatment. The MHS shows its commitment to mental health care through unparalleled support and quality of care, and also by the way we allocate care. We encourage service members to ask for help, train our providers to provide the best care possible, and ensure crucial resources are available.
A critical element of ensuring the mental health of our service members, retirees, and their families is making it easy to find and receive care and support. The MHS provides individual, marriage, and family therapy, as well as intensive outpatient and inpatient care, available both in and outside our military treatment facilities. These avenues are only part of the available support, which also includes chaplain support in all the services, Army and Marine Corps community services, Fleet and Family Support Centers, military family life counselors, crisis lines, hotlines, Military OneSource, and a dozen other support programs that can directly provide assistance or get you to the right place to receive care.
We’ve updated our policies so they’re in line with the needs of our service members, retirees, and their families, including an update to the TRICARE policy to ensure beneficiaries gain better access to mental health care at lower costs. The policy update removed limits on the length of stay for beneficiaries in inpatient mental health treatment and residential treatment care for adolescents and children. It also took away limits on the number of annual visits beneficiaries are allowed for various mental health services, also reducing copayments and cost-shares.
In the MHS, we hold ourselves accountable in the mental health field by keeping track of our progress. When beneficiaries ask how well we provide care, our goal is to communicate thorough and honest information. We use short questionnaires, either self-administered or given by the provider, to determine how well our beneficiaries do with the care provided and what we need to do to improve that care.
We work hard to make sure the members of the military and their families have access to support and mental health services. Taking care of our psychological well-being is a personal responsibility because mental health is a critical part of our overall health. Help raise awareness and keep the conversation going – not just during Mental Health Awareness Month, but every day of the year. 

Military Kids Connect provides online resources to help children cope and thrive

Article
4/25/2017
Military Kids Connect is an online community for children ages 6-17 years old, providing access to age-appropriate resources to help with the unique psychological challenges of military life.
Children with parents in the military face a lot of challenges to their psychological health; the Military Kids Connect website gives them resources to deal with these challenges
Recommended Content:
Children's Health | Mental Health Care | Deployment Health

#AskDCoE

Infographic
3/3/2017
Got a mental health question? #AskDCoE
It's Mental Health Awareness Month. Got a question? #AskDCoE
Recommended Content:
Mental Health Care | Mental Wellness

Signs of Mental Health Distress

Infographic
3/3/2017
Signs of Mental Health Distress
This graphic shows signs of mental health distress.
Recommended Content:
Mental Health Care | Mental Wellness

DCoE Outreach Center

Infographic
3/3/2017
Call for Help 24/7 1-866-966-1020
Free, Fast and Accurate Information for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Concerns
Recommended Content:
Mental Health Care | Traumatic Brain Injury | Mental Wellness

Single? Deployed? These relationship tips are helpful no matter what your status is

Article
2/14/2017
Airmen from the 107th Airlift Wing, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, N.Y., read through Valentine's Day cards presented to them. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Raymond Lloyd)
Valentine’s Day is known for cards, chocolates, flowers and sweet affirmations – but the holiday can bring a mix of emotions
Recommended Content:
Mental Wellness | Mental Health Care

DCoE hot-topic blogs of 2016

Article
12/30/2016
Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health & Traumatic Brain Injury Logo
Throughout 2016, the Defense Centers of Excellence addressed many issues related to psychological health and traumatic brain injury
Recommended Content:
Warrior Care | Traumatic Brain Injury | Mental Health Care | Sleep | Mental Wellness

Military spouses and kids: Staying resilient

Article
12/22/2016
A pilot is greeted by his family during a homecoming celebration at Naval Air Station, Oceana. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alysia R. Hernandez)
As a military spouse, you have a lot on your plate – and if you’re also a parent, you have to balance those challenges with the needs of your children
Recommended Content:
Deployment Health | Mental Health Care | Mental Wellness | Children's Health

Interagency Task Force on Military and Veterans Mental Health

Report
11/17/2016
This report provides an update on interdepartmental actions during 2015 and 2016 to fulfill the ITF recommendations, and outline continuing efforts to further improve mental health treatment and programs for Veterans, Service members, and their families.
Recommended Content:
Mental Health Care | DoD/VA Sharing Initiatives

New annual report highlights joint DoD/VA/HHS efforts to provide mental health services

Article
11/17/2016
U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Cohen A. Young
The 2016 Annual Report of the Interagency Task Force on Military and Veterans Mental Health addresses several key areas in care, including how to improve the transition from military health care to the VA
Recommended Content:
Mental Health Care | Warrior Care | DoD/VA Sharing Initiatives

Depression symptoms can increase with concussion

Article
11/4/2016
U.S. Army Sgt. Eric Puglio, right, of Foxtrot Battery, 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade bandages Army Sgt. Derrick Rouse's head after he received a simulated injury. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Carol A. Lehman)
A study shows that patients who are diagnosed with both a concussion and depression report more severe symptoms than patients with only a concussion
Recommended Content:
Traumatic Brain Injury | Mental Health Care

Don’t let holiday stress get you down

Article
10/31/2016
The holidays don’t need to take a toll on your health. Keep a check on over-commitment and over-spending. Balance work, home and play. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration by Airman 1st Class Destinee Dougherty)
Despite the fun and enjoyment the holidays can bring for many, for others, it can be a time of stress
Recommended Content:
Mental Health Care | Mental Wellness

Deployments can be 'significant stressor' for families but help is available

Article
10/7/2016
A sailor returning from a seven-month deployment reunites with his family. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Andre T. Richard)
While deployments can be stressful on the families of those deployed, there are a few tips families can follow to help alleviate some of the stress and resources they can turn to for support
Recommended Content:
Mental Health Care | Deployment Health

Healthy aging possible for all: Tips to follow

Article
10/5/2016
Getting regular exercise correlates to better cognitive and physical function in older adults.
Fort Belvoir geriatric physician provides tips on how one can enjoy a healthy lifestyle while getting older.
Recommended Content:
Preventive Health | Integrative Wellness | Mental Wellness | Physical Activity

TRICARE expands access to mental health care, substance use disorder treatment

Article
9/29/2016
Image of the TRICARE logo.
Significant improvements to TRICARE's mental health benefit being implemented
Recommended Content:
Mental Health Care | TRICARE Health Program | Access to Health Care | Transgender Education References and Training Resources

Suicide prevention: How to recognize the warning signs

Article
9/22/2016
Five signs that may mean someone is in emotional pain and might be at risk for suicide. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Chris Botzum)
How to recognize the warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide, and what steps to take
Recommended Content:
Mental Health Care | Suicide Prevention

No hay comentarios:

Publicar un comentario