Prioritizing Mental Health in the Military

The Hidden Battle

Mental Health Challenges in the Military

The military lifestyle is often romanticized, with images of courage and resilience taking center stage. However, beneath the uniform lies a complex struggle with mental health challenges that demand attention. Extended deployments, exposure to traumatic events, and the constant need to perform under pressure can lead to a range of psychological issues.

The mental health of military service members should be a top priority. After enduring the stresses of military service, many veterans return home struggling with conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. We must do more to support the mental wellbeing of those who serve.

The Military Health System has many resources available to help service members, families, or veterans who are struggling with mental health challenges.

Changing the Conversation

Destigmatizing Mental Health

One of the most significant barriers to seeking help in the military has been the stigma associated with mental health issues. The fear of being perceived as weak or unfit for duty has, historically, prevented many service members from seeking the care they need.

Seeking Help Should Be Encouraged

Thankfully, the conversation around mental health is evolving. Military leadership, veterans’ organizations, and mental health professionals are working together to break down these barriers and create an environment where seeking help is seen as a sign of strength. No one should feel ashamed to take care of their mental health.

The Real Warriors Campaign strives to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health care and promotes service members to seek assistance when necessary. You can discover articles featuring support resources, video profiles showcasing service member and veteran experiences, as well as downloadable or orderable materials.

Comprehensive Support Systems

Recognizing the need to prioritize mental health, military organizations around the world are implementing comprehensive support systems. These include regular mental health check-ups, access to qualified therapists and counselors, and confidential reporting mechanisms. Additionally, peer support programs are gaining traction, allowing service members to connect with others who understand their experiences.

Access to Care Must Be Improved

Too often, service members have difficulty getting mental health services when they need them. Appointment wait times at VA facilities can drag on for weeks or months. We need to provide better funding and resources to expand access to mental health care for veterans. No veteran should have to wait when they are courageous enough to ask for help.

Support Networks Are Vital

Service members need strong support networks during and after their military careers. Programs that foster connections between veterans can provide the understanding and camaraderie they need. Peer support specialists who are veterans themselves can also encourage others to stay strong. We all have a role to play in looking out for the mental health of the brave men and women who serve our country.

The Headstrong Project is a non-profit mental health organization providing confidential, barrier-free, and stigma-free PTSD treatment to our veterans, service members, and family connected to their care.

The Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) provides critically needed support to disabled and at-risk veterans who leave the military wounded—physically or psychologically—after defending our safety and our freedom.

SOF Support helps ensure that the Special Operations Forces of the U.S. Military receive the support they need to effectively carry out their operations, keep their families intact, and lead a healthy and productive life after they have left our nation’s service.

The Psychological Health Resource Center operates around the clock to assist service members, veterans, and their families with inquiries regarding psychological health matters.

TRICARE is the healthcare program provided by the Defense Health Agency (DHA), a key component of the Military Health System. It offers comprehensive medical services and support to eligible service members, veterans, and their families, ensuring they receive quality healthcare when needed.

Fostering Wellness with Technology

The military is harnessing cutting-edge technology to promote wellness and prioritize mental health. Innovations such as mobile apps, telehealth services, and data-driven approaches are being utilized to provide accessible resources and support, ensuring that service members and veterans can maintain their well-being and seek assistance when needed.

Military OneSource offers valuable resources to help you manage stress and access tools for maintaining your physical and mental well-being. Additionally, you can find free self-care mobile applications developed in collaboration with the Department of Defense, Veteran Affairs, and other partners.

Outpatient App has proposed a wellness solution designed to enhance the mental and emotional well-being of individuals, specifically tailored for the esteemed U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. The app’s user-centric onboarding process initiates a personalized journey toward improved mental health. Users are prompted to define their wellness aspirations from a range of options. This customization ensures that every user’s unique needs are addressed, fostering a sense of agency over their well-being.

Training and Resilience Building

Training programs that focus on emotional resilience are becoming integral components of military training. Teaching coping mechanisms, stress reduction techniques, and communication skills equips personnel with the tools they need to manage the emotional challenges they encounter during and after their service.

VHA TRAIN is a free service for learners from the Public Health Foundation. VHA TRAIN is supported by the Veterans Health Administration Institute for Learning, Education and Development (ILEAD), an internal education and training program office in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Star Behavioral Health Providers is a tier-based continuing education program that is offered in select states to enhance behavioral health providers’ scope of knowledge and skills for treating military Service members, Veterans and their families with reintegration- and deployment-related concerns.

Mental Health First Aid for Military, Veterans, and their Families is an evidence-based and early intervention training program developed for adults to learn how to assist and support members of their community who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge

Prevention Is Crucial

While treatment is important, we also need to focus more on resilience and preventing mental health issues from developing in the first place. Techniques like promoting strong social connections, teaching coping strategies, and identifying at-risk individuals early on can help. The military should continue researching evidence-based ways to build psychological resilience among troops before they are ever deployed. Prevention saves lives.

Resilience Tools:

Military OneSource’s suite of free resilience tools empower you to manage your mood, strengthen relationships, set goals, and enhance mission readiness. Carry these valuable support services with you on your phone or tablet. With CoachHub, you can access real-life coaching experts and track goals for exercise, nutrition, and stress reduction. MoodHacker lets you rate your mood and utilize evidence-based techniques for daily well-being improvement. Enhance relationship quality with Love Every Day, which offers a 21-day text message prompt program for better communication and reduced tension. Lastly, Chill Drills, designed for the military community, provides simple audio mindfulness exercises to reduce stress and promote tranquility.

Joint Base San Antonio is dedicated to supporting the military community. Resilience, often defined as the capacity to endure, adapt, rebound, and thrive in the presence of trials and pressures, extends to encompass the realms of the mind, body, and one’s inner spirit. Delve deeper into the concept of resilience through these resources provided by JBSA.

Transition and Reintegration

The transition from active duty to civilian life can be daunting, often exacerbating mental health issues. Recognizing this, efforts are being made to ensure a smoother reintegration process. Transition programs provide education about potential challenges, access to mental health resources, and networking opportunities to help veterans find a sense of purpose and belonging in their post-military lives.

The inTransition Program offers a confidential, no-cost service tailored to provide specialized coaching and support for service members, National Guard members, reservists, veterans, and retirees who require access to mental health care during transitions such as relocating to a new assignment, returning from deployment, shifting between active duty and reserve roles, preparing to exit military service, or whenever they seek a new mental health provider or require one for the first time.

The Stronghold Transition Program, created by The Best Defense Foundation, melds principles from the battlefield with strategies honed on the football field. It not only preserves the bonds of brotherhood but also furnishes veterans with tools and services to enable and empower them to move forward.

SAVI, the Strategic Alliance for Veteran Integration, is a national nonprofit dedicated to helping Veterans thrive after their military service. Founded by a passionate service-disabled Veteran in 2017, SAVI offers customized support and unique programs to guide transitioning service-members through their VA benefits and post-transition goals, making their journey to civilian life smoother.

The USO Transition Program expands the USO’s support to active duty, Reserve, National Guard members, and military spouses by providing professional development services during their military service and as they prepare for life beyond the military.

Hope For The Warriors offers a range of comprehensive support programs geared towards assisting service members, veterans, and military families in areas such as transition, well-being, peer involvement, and linking with community resources.

Research and Innovation

In the pursuit of effective mental health care, the military is investing in research and innovation. This includes studying the psychological effects of combat exposure, developing new treatments for PTSD, and leveraging technology to provide remote counseling options for those who may be unable to access in-person care.

The National Center for PTSD is the world’s leading research and educational center of excellence on PTSD and traumatic stress.

WRAIR’s Military Psychiatry branch develops evidence-based knowledge products and interventions to optimize the readiness and resilience of Soldiers across the deployment cycle.

Conclusion

Prioritizing mental health in the military is not just a matter of policy; it’s a moral imperative. Just as service members are trained to protect their nations, they deserve the tools and resources to protect their own mental well-being. As the conversation around mental health continues to evolve, and support systems become more robust, the military is taking essential steps toward breaking the silence and healing the heroes who dedicate their lives to our safety and security. By addressing mental health challenges head-on, we honor their sacrifices and ensure a healthier, more resilient military force for generations to come.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Military Crisis Line by dialing 988, then press 1, or access online chat by texting 838255 or at this link.

The Military Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource for all service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, and Veterans, even if they’re not enrolled in VA benefits or health care.