The U.S. Army acknowledges May as Mental Health Month. “Live Your Life Well-Promoting Health and Wellness in the Army” is this year’s theme. Commanders and leaders across the Army are encouraged to use the month of May as an opportunity to educate Soldiers, Army civilians and family members about the Army’s behavioral health resources and programs available on Army installations, military treatment facilities and within their local communities.
At the United States Army Medical Symposium and Exposition, May 17-21, 2010, San Antonio, Texas, MEDCOM will formally roll out a new Comprehensive Behavioral Health System of Care (CBHSOC) Campaign Plan. The CBHSOC is nested under the Army Campaign Plan for Health Promotion, Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention to standardize and optimize the vast array of behavioral health policies and procedures across the MEDCOM to ensure seamless continuity of care to better identify, prevent, treat and track behavioral health issues that affect Soldiers and families during every phase of the Army Force Generation cycle.
Stress reactions and behavioral support requirements are at an all time high for the nation. It is imperative that we as an Army family do all we can to help our Soldiers, civilians and family members manage the normal stresses of combat and deployments-before during and after. We also must maximize use of our behavioral health providers and do all we can to eliminate stigma for persons who seek or need behavioral health care lasting more than a month.
U.S. Army Surgeon General, LtG Eric B. Schoomaker recently discussed on his blog the importance of behavioral health in our Army:
“Take time this month to restore balance in your life, learn about the behavioral health resources where you live, and how you and your Families can better manage the stresses of everyday life as well as those that result from the challenges of deployments and combat.
There is no braver act than to ask for help when you need it —we want the healthiest and most resilient Army possible.”
To learn more about Mental Health Month, visit the Army’s STAND-TO! site.
