DVIDS – News – Empowering Airmen for Mental Health Awareness Month

KEISLER AIR FORCE BASE, Mich. – Since 1949, May has been designated National Mental Health Awareness Month to break down the stigma of discussing mental health and celebrate recovery from mental illness.

For military personnel, this is also a month to take ownership and do what it takes to have a healthy mind to perform optimally as an individual and as a warfighter.

“This month is an opportunity for individuals to reflect on where they are,” said Maj. Mary Ann Dewitt, 81st Medical Group mental health division chief. She says, “As one of her four pillars of overall Airman physical fitness, mental health must be maintained through a series of healthy behaviors such as eating well, exercising, and getting proper sleep.” yeah.”

Maintenance is critical because poor mental health can negatively impact many aspects of a service member’s life, compromising both quality of life and mission readiness.

“We need to be mentally prepared no matter where we are. Otherwise, whether we are deploying downrange or completing missions at home, we will be very active in our lives.” You can’t even be a full-fledged member,” said Sergeant Martin. Katrina Larson, 81st Medical Group mental health flight chief.

Preparing for the unpredictability of military life is an essential aspect of maintaining mental health.

“The military will issue orders at the last minute. Some will receive two weeks’ notice for deployments lasting six to 12 months, while others will receive temporary deployments of six weeks. These aspects of service It puts a huge strain on us and our families. If you’re not already in a good place, going through a situation like that definitely makes your mental state worse,” Larson said.

There are many preventive measures and resources available to maintain your mental health. By taking advantage of on-base resources like 81st Medical Group’s Behavioral Health and resources available around the world through Military OneSource and Mental Health: An Summary for Service Members, members can make a difference in their lives and You can recognize when you need help maintaining your psychological health. -There is.

“Prevention comes in many forms,” ​​Larson said. “Maybe it’s a hobby they’ve always wanted to try, like taking a pottery class. It might be going for a weekly walk with their spouse or calling their family every week. We’re going to give you some resources. We encourage people to look for things they enjoy and share that passion with others, because you never know if the person next to you is struggling.”