NAVSUP Workshop Promotes Mental Health

By David Rea, NAVSUP Corporate Communications

MECHANICSBURG, Penn. (NNS) -- Navy civilian employees and Sailors attended a Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP)-sponsored mental health workshop, April 26.

Ruth Hope Woodlen provided attendees with an overview of mental health in America, an anxiety and depression checklist, and simple tools to improve their mental wellbeing.

"Mental health – good or bad – everyone has it," said Woodlen, executive director for the Mental Health Association of the Capital Region, Inc. "Mental health is our ability to cope with changes in life, engage in meaningful activities and maintain fulfilling relationships with others."

Woodlen said Americans do not talk about mental health very often because of a fear of being labeled as mentally ill, or having a mental disorder. Most Americans, she said, grow up with the image of those with mental illness as being "lost souls who are wandering the streets talking to themselves."

According to Woodlen, one out of four adult Americans over the age of 18 will experience a diagnosable mental health problem in any given year.

"The sad part is that less than a third will ever get, or even ask, for any help," Woodlen said. "Yet it has been proven that people living with serious mental illness can die 25 years earlier than those who do get treatment."

Woodlen provided attendees with symptoms that can indicate a mental health disorder, illness or problem.

"The good news in all this is, it's okay to get help. Recovery is possible, and it's never too late to talk about mental health," she explained. "If one does begin to experience symptoms - get help. Go to your family physician, be honest with what you are feeling and thinking, and know that you are not alone.

The workshop, held in support of the 2011 Wellness Program Plan, developed as part of the effort to support the NAVSUP Wellness strategic initiative, which promotes health and wellness across NAVSUP. Each month follows a Department of Defense-assigned wellness theme.

NAVSUP's primary mission is to provide U.S. naval forces with quality supplies and services. With headquarters in Mechanicsburg, Penn., and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP oversees logistics programs in the areas of supply operations, conventional ordnance, contracting, resale, fuel, transportation, and security assistance. In addition, NAVSUP is responsible for quality of life issues for our naval forces, including food service, postal services, Navy Exchanges, and movement of household goods.