By Katherine Cruise, Director of Communications and Marketing, Military Pathways/Screening for Mental Health, Inc.
WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass.— The rate of heavy alcohol use among young military men is about twice that of their civilian counterparts. Taking the first step to getting help is as easy as visiting www.DrinkingIQ.org. The anonymous online alcohol screening tool, provided by Military Pathways, is visited by many users during Alcohol Awareness Month in April and on National Alcohol Screening Day, Thursday, April 5.
Military Pathways provides mental health screening tools for the military community. The alcohol assessment, completed by more than 32,500 users, gives service members and their families useful information about their drinking habits. Alcohol assessments provide participants with information and resources if their responses show they could have an alcohol problem.
It also has Video Doctor, an interactive program in which an actor-portrayed doctor guides the user through a series of videos based on the user’s readiness for change. The program assesses the user’s readiness to accept advice, determines what type of help he or she needs, and delivers only what the user is ready to hear. The advice includes tips for seeking help, types of self-care, and ways of cutting down on drinking. Video Doctor is at the cutting edge of online mental health tools and has been very well received by participants.
“It’s important for us on the base to recognize National Alcohol Screening Day to educate military members about screenings and the services available to them that are confidential,” said Lt. Cmdr. Ken Simmet, a U.S. Public Health Service officer serving as the deputy commander, Mental Health Flight, 92nd Medical Group, Fairchild AFB, Wash. “Providing service members with a free, anonymous screening tool allows them to learn more about their own drinking habits,” added Simmet.
Military installations and health care providers around the world are recognizing National Alcohol Screening Day and National Alcohol Awareness Month with events to reach out and educate people about alcohol use and abuse. The program has been extremely well-received since its inception in 1999.
This program helps people realize what kind of relationship they have with alcohol. Research shows that while people who score positive on assessments often seek treatment, many others take steps to reduce their alcohol consumption.
About Military Pathways
Military Pathways gives service personnel and their families the opportunity to learn more about mental health and alcohol use through anonymous self-assessments offered online. The program is designed to help individuals identify symptoms and access assistance before a problem becomes serious. The self-assessments address alcohol use, PTSD, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder. After completing a self-assessment, individuals receive referral information including TRICARE, Military OneSource and Veterans Affairs. The program is run by the nonprofit Screening for Mental Health, Inc. and is fully funded by the Department of Defense, with support from the National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2). To learn more, visit MilitaryPathways.org.
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