DCoE Expert Says Mental Health Shouldn’t Be Ignored

By Jayne Davis, DCoE Strategic Communications

The decision to seek help for psychological health concerns remains a struggle for many service members. In its 2012 lifestyle survey, Blue Star Families, organized by military spouses, reported that of military family respondents who believed they recognized signs of posttraumatic stress disorder in their service member, 62 percent of those service members had not sought treatment.

In an effort to encourage service members to seek help, Lt. Cmdr. Dana Lee, resilience and prevention subject matter expert with Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE), shares reasons why you shouldn’t ignore your mental health and resources that you can access now in this video. If you or someone you know has concerns, Lee recommends that you:

■Speak to someone you trust and ask for help

■Use online programs and tools such as realwarriors.net and afterdeployment.org that help you understand and cope with your concerns

■Download mobile apps like Breathe2Relax, T2 MoodTracker, PTSD Coach and Positive Activity Jackpot that help you help yourself

■Contact the DCoE Outreach Center to get information anytime at 866-966-1020 or resources@dcoeoutreach.org

Watch the video and share it. Help is there if you reach out for it.