Deb's Mental Health And Wellness Guide
"Face Yourself - Free Yourself"
~MILITARY MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT~
(mentalhealthamerica.net)
(Added 12/18/15 / Revised 9/20/17)
(* New Addition Added At The Bottom Of The Page)
Mental Health America respects and appreciates current and former members of the military and provides information to help to break down the stigma of mental health issues among soldiers, veterans, their families, and medical staff to ensure that a greater number of military families receive the prompt and high-quality care they deserve.
Loss of a Family Member
Direct Services / Health BenefitsTRICARE
(877) 874-2273 FREE North Region
(800) 403-3950 FREE South Region
(888) 874-9378 FREE West Region
(888) 363-2273 FREE Main TRICARE Information Service number
http://www.tricare.mil/mhshome.aspx
TRICARE has three regional claims offices that can be contacted for information about healthcare benefits, including benefits for mental health and substance abuse services.
The Deployment Health Clinical Center Web site offers a list of resources for service members and their families and a link to the Department of Defense Mental Health Self-Assessment Program (alcohol and mental health screening).
The official Web site for the Department of Veterans Affairs offers information about benefits for returning veterans, those who have lost a loved one, health insurance information and facility locator to help find the closest VA Medical Center and the services it offers.
www1.va.gov/directory/guide/vetcenterflsh.asp
Vet Centers provide readjustment counseling and outreach services to all veterans who served in any combat zone. Services are also available for their family members for military-related issues. Veterans have earned these benefits through their service and all are provided at no cost to the veteran or family. The 207 community based Vet Centers are located in all fifty states, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Use this link to locate your closest Vet Center.
Military OneSource (800) 342-9647 FREE (24-hour, toll-free number)
• ARMY - "Army OneSource" (800)-464-8107 FREE
• MARINES - "Marines OneSource" (800)-869-0278 FREE
• NAVY - "Navy OneSource" (800)-540-4123 FREE
• AIR FORCE - "Air Force OneSource" (800)-707-5784 FREE
A Military OneSource consultant can provide a brief assessment and referral to mental health professionals across the country for six free counseling sessions. Dept of Defense Helpline (800) 796-9699 FREE. This is a deployment helpline at Walter Reed Medical Center.
Publication Department of Defense Compensation Handbook: http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12270
Online Screening Tools Free, confidential, online screenings for anxiety, depression, mood disorders, PTSD and other conditions are available at http://www.mhascreening.org,
Mental Health America's screening service.
PTSD Discussing Trauma and PTSD With Your Doctor
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/discussing-ptsd-with-doctor.asp
PTSD and the Family
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/pages/ptsd-and-the-family.asp
National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (802) 296-6300
This is a Web site sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs that offers a broad range of information about post-traumatic stress disorder, treatment methods and has a VA facilities locator.
Anxiety Disorders Association of America (240) 485-1001
The Anxiety Disorders Association of America offers extensive information about anxiety disorders (including PTSD) in people of all ages, online self-screening tools, a searchable list of treatment professionals and support groups, information about clinical trials, a medication chart, on-line newsletter, personal stories, and an online bookstore.
The Sidran Traumatic Stress Institute
(888) 825-8249 FREE (therapist referral)
The Sidran Traumatic Stress Institute offers extensive information online about PTSD, geographic lists of therapists with experiencetreating people with PTSD, and books, articles, and referrals to support groups. They also have information about self-injury.
Suicide Hotline Phone: (800) 273-TALK (8255)
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
By calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's 24 hour toll-free crisis hotline, 1-800-273-TALK FREE (1-800-273-8255), you are connected with a crisis center that can tell you where to seek immediate help in your area.
Witness Justice: for survivors of traumatic events (800) 495-4957 FREE
Witness Justice offers information to help survivors and their friends and family. Use keywords, “military families” or “war” in the search box to find materials on these topics.
American Psychiatric Association (APA) (888) 357-7924 FREE
The APA has information about a broad range of mental health topics. To locate a psychiatrist in your area, you can contact APA's Answer Center using their toll-free number.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (866) 615-6464 FREE
NIMH offers information about a broad range of mental health topics, including PTSD, medications and listing of current clinical trials. Their initiative Real Men Real Depression offers information to help encourage men to seek treatment for depression.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
National Mental Health Information Center (800)-789-2647
SAMHSA provides referrals to outpatient, inpatient and residential treatment facilities, including affordable mental health services. Their Web site has a Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator to help you find substance abuse and dual diagnosis treatment (combined treatment for those who have both a substance abuse and mental health problem).
Military Families Army Community Service Center
MyArmyLifeToo offers information and articles on various topics, such as home and personal safety, managing deployment and money management.
Military OneSource (800) 342-9647 FREE (24-hour, toll-free number)
See description in above section.National Military Family Association
(800) 260-0218 FREE
The National Military Family Association educates military families about their rights and benefits. Their main programs are Spouse Scholarships (awarded to spouses to obtain professional certification or attend post-secondary or graduate school) and Operation Purple Camps (summer camps for military children).
Army Family Readiness Group
Family members can check their unit's Web site for up-to-date information and information about other families in the unit.
Marine Corps Community Services
Find support programs, including deployment, relocation and transition.Army Families Online (800) 833-6622 FREE
http://www.armyfamiliesonline.org
Army Families Online staffs the Army Information Line from 8:00am to 4:30pm EST. They offer information and referral services for Army soldiers, civilians, retirees, veterans and families and address all issues and concerns. For mental health services, they refer to One-Source or for active-duty soldiers, they can connect them to their chaplain or someone in their chain of command.
The Military Spouse Resource Center provides information and resources to spouses of military personnel related to education, training and employment within the U.S. They also have a section on relocation resources.
Military Family Network
Their mission is to support military families and increase their readiness and well-being by connecting them with their communities and the organizations that provide the best service and value.
Homecoming, Veterans and Families
Veterans and Families provide information and resources to help homecoming Veterans and their families in their transition from military to civilian life. You will find links to online support groups.
Welcome Home: A guide to a healthy family reunion
http://www.redcross.org/www-files/Documents/pdf/corppubs/welcome.pdf
National Guard and Reservists
The Army Reserve Family Programs offers homecoming and reunion resources, including tips and links to resources.
National Guard Family Programs (888) 777-7731 FREE
http://www.citizensoldiersupport.org/
The National Guard Family Programs offer information about programs, benefits, and resources, including family, youth and community outreach initiatives.
Citizen Soldiers Support Program
Citizen Soldiers Support Programs works with local community agencies and organizations to address needs of Citizen Soldiers (including members of the National Guard and Reservists) and their families.
Veterans
The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America provides support through advocacy, education and fundraising (fundraising mainly for VA hospitals).National Veterans Foundation (888) 777-4443 FREE (hotline) (9am-9pm PST)
The National Veterans Foundation is operated by veterans and helps veterans and families access the help they need, including suicide and crisis intervention and mental health/PTSD counseling.
AMVETS (877) 7AM-VETS
AMVETS provides information, counseling and claims service to all honorably discharged veterans and their families concerning their benefits. They are also involved in community service programs and advice.
The Vietnam Veterans of America is a support and advocacy organization. Vietnam Veterans of America (800) VVA-1316
Parents
Marineparents.com offers resources for parents, spouses, family and friends of Marines. They help connect families to each other via e-mail, chat rooms and message boards.
Your Soldier Your Army: A Parent's Guide
*Added: 9/20/17
National Council For Aging Care's Guide On Military Veteran Benefits
www.aging.com/complete-guide-for-veteran-seniors
National Council for Aging
1530 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22209