Mental Health Clinic works to help Airmen, families

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jack Sanders
  • JBER PAO
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Members of the 673d Medical Group Mental Health Flight have been working hard to make sure that military members and their families are taken care of.

The military life can be a stressful one, said Maj. Alexsa Billups, 673d MDG. Having family members on the installation or far off, on the mind, can take a toll on military members as well. Add to that the stressful tasks of daily living and the harsh Alaskan environment and what's left is an extremely deadly, stressful condition.

"It's up to the individual people to come to mental health for help," Major Billups said. "Unfortunately, most people think they can manage their stress on their own and won't come to us for the help they need until they find themselves facing greater life consequences, such as divorce or disciplinary action."

The Mental Health flight can help anyone who is a TRICARE beneficiary, so not only can active-duty military members come to them for help, but their families can too.

"Our job is to provide services for all mental health issues," Major Billups said.

There are many different elements to the Mental Health flight including ADAPT or Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment, Children and Youth, Drug Demand Reduction Program, Family Advocacy, the Mental Health Clinic, New Parent Support Program, Outreach Education Element, Special Needs Identification and Assignment Coordination and the TBI or Traumatic Brain Injury clinic, which is the only one in the Air Force.

Many military members say they believe Mental Health has a negative connotation, but according to Major Billups, once people receive help they think differently.

"People are afraid of mental health for many reasons, but it's their behavior that causes the negative impact" the Major said. "If someone is referred under a Commander Directed Evaluation we have to determine whether he or she is fit for duty and some individuals require a Medical Evaluation Board which is done in the best interest of the service member to determine eligibility for a medical retirement and continued medical benefits."

Major Billups said, that there was a study done about eight years ago where 1,200 Airmen were asked about their mental health experience and more than 90 percent reported no career impacting recommendations.

Some military members and their families may be overburdened and need help and not even realize it, the Major said.

"Let's take a marriage for example," she said. "If you're having more frequent fights with your spouse and it's not stopping over time, despite what the couple has done on their own, it's a good indicator that they may need to talk to someone."

The Major said, if people simply need to talk they can.

"Coming to Mental Health is no different than someone going to a cardiologist for heart-related issues or the dentist for a cavity, we are the people that help others with their emotional struggles," said Tech. Sgt Billy Watkins Mental Health Outreach Element NCO in charge.

Getting the help to people that need it doesn't necessarily mean they have to go to the Mental Health Clinic in the hospital.

"We work with outside agencies like chaplains, the Military Family Readiness Center, the HAWC (Health and Wellness Center), Military OneSource and the military family life consultants," Major Billups said. "We all sit at the Integrated Delivery System meeting monthly and talk about the needs of the military community and come up with activities, and programs to meet those needs. "

"The main thing is making sure that people get the help they need," Major Billups said.

Suicide prevention is one of the main topics at the IDS meetings.

"Mental Health is great because they have the professionals that are able to help us with the most important asset the Air Force has; our people and their families," said Master Sgt. Timothy Grimes, Maintenance Operations Squadron first sergeant. "One of the best things mental health offers is a class that teaches supervisors to help military members on the front lines deal with the stress they're encountering daily."

Military members all go through briefings before and after deployments to ensure they get help.

"Suicide prevention teaches people that there are signs and symptoms to watch out for and what steps to take should they, or someone they know, experience those symptoms. Just like cancer or diabetes, the faster you catch the symptoms and treat them, the better the chance of recovery. Suicide prevention on a regular basis has the potential to put people on auto pilot when faced with this type of situation. Just like (Self Aid Buddy Care) in a war zone, we need to know how to react and be proactive in taking care of our wingmen. It saves lives," Master Sgt. Nathaniel Perry, 673 Medical Operations Squadron and Flight Chief of Mental Health, and acting First Sergeant said.

Mental Health is strongly involved in suicide prevention.

"Mental Health is involved because we genuinely feel that no one wants to kill themselves," Sergeant Perry said. "They simply want a way out of whatever type of distress they are experiencing. With the stigma attached to mental health, many folks don't know that we are here to provide just that, options and tools to help people cope with whatever issue they may be experiencing.

"Military members who are uneasy about going to Mental Health should visit www.realwarriors.net," Major Billups said. "It's an amazing site that has videos of real warriors telling their stories of what they were going through and how they got help," she said, "mostly warriors who are still wearing their uniform despite seeking help."

Military members can also call the suicide prevention hotline too at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).