RICHMOND, Virginia –
Might is Psychological Well being Consciousness Month, a chance to remind Troopers and civilians that the Virginia Nationwide Guard Behavioral Well being Program stands prepared to supply psychological well being help to service members not solely this this month, however all year long.
Psychological Well being Consciousness Month strives to cut back the stigma surrounding psychological sickness.
For the previous a number of years, the Virginia Nationwide Guard has established a Behavioral Well being Program to advertise the psychological well being and bodily health of Troopers and to help VAARNG mission readiness.
Beneath the supervision of Jonathan Goldwire, Director of Psychological Well being at VAARNG, this program works carefully with “Staff in Inexperienced” behavioral well being to supply annual readiness screenings, psychoeducation and preventive help and advisory providers with command groups in the USA and overseas during times of mobilization. .
A few of the most typical issues offered by troopers and commanders in Virginia search assist embrace relationship misery, communication points, stress administration, grief/loss, and dealing with others. main life modifications reminiscent of these encountered round coaching and deployment cycles, in accordance with Maj. Stephanie Malozzi, chief of behavioral well being for the Virginia Military Nationwide Guard Medical Command based mostly at Fort Barfoot.
These kinds of stressors can negatively affect activity efficiency, safety, and mission capabilities whereas affecting troopers themselves and their households. The Psychological Well being Director and Behavioral Well being Staff members all present the chance to supply transient assessments and join troopers to applicable ranges of help.
Statistics point out that 60% of service members with psychological well being wants report stigma-related issues as the first cause for not actively pursuing remedy, in accordance with Malozzi.
Nevertheless, this hardly ever results in limitation intervals on rights, she mentioned. Actually, more often than not, troopers are capable of get the help they want whereas persevering with to carry out their duties, resulting in an elevated sense of help or cooperation with the soldier’s command. .
Behavioral Well being Officers can also present providers reminiscent of command-directed psychological well being assessments, profiles, waivers, stability letters, safety clearance points, and provide suggestions to command groups within the unit.
Examples of different sources groups can draw on embrace working with chaplains, different medical suppliers, holistic well being and health group, soldier and household readiness program , Virginia Veteran and Household Assist Groups, Suicide Prevention and Sexual Assault Prevention Groups.
“Every group is working collectively to spotlight the significance of teaching and offering sources to these in want whereas persevering with to cut back the stigma round looking for psychological well being help,” Malozzi mentioned. “Troopers study to take higher care of themselves and, in flip, they’re extra prepared, extra resilient and capable of meet numerous challenges all through their lives.”
In celebration of Psychological Well being Consciousness Month, VAARNG is highlighting the employees and providers accessible to them.
There are three particular person psychological well being coordinators assigned to every unit throughout the state. Rene Hannah is the Senior Psychological Well being Coordinator. A licensed medical social employee, Hannah is assigned to the 329th Regional Assist Command, Joint Power Headquarters, and Recruit and Retention Battalion.
“You aren’t your psychological sickness,” Hannah says. “Your analysis, your situation, ought to by no means outline who you’re.”
Ruth Ilboudo, a licensed medical social employee, is assigned to Headquarters Battalion, twenty ninth Infantry Division; 2nd Battalion, 224th Air Power; and 91st Cyber Brigade.
Ilboudo’s psychological well being philosophy is, “There may be hope by means of life’s challenges…imagine that your scenario will work out to your good.”
Marie Kennedy, a licensed grasp social employee, covers the 116th Infantry Brigade Fight Staff; Fort Barfoot; 183rd Regional Coaching Institute; Medical Command; and thirty fourth Civil Assist Staff.
“Psychological well being is like caring for your bodily well being or your automotive,” Kennedy mentioned. “It requires common upkeep and checks.”
Along with Hannah, Ilboudo and Kennedy, there are 4 behavioral well being officers and three behavioral well being technicians at the moment serving within the Virginia Nationwide Guard.
Malozzi is a licensed medical psychologist and is the Chief Behavioral Well being Officer. A few of its objectives embrace supporting suicide and sexual assault prevention and intervention packages, bettering ease of entry to behavioral well being help, bettering communication with command groups to incorporate better consciousness of the providers supplied by the groups and the advance of the pre- and post-deployment technique of choice and readjustment of accomplished Troopers.
“Relating to psychological well being care, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all method,” Malozzi mentioned. “I imagine that the very best leaders and clinicians take the time to get to know these they work with, hearken to what issues most to them, and collaboratively create plans that help every particular person within the environments they discover themselves in. “
Maj. Wayne Marrs, a licensed medical social employee with in depth expertise working with troopers and veterans, is assigned to Charlie Firm, Charlottesville-based 429th Brigade Assist Battalion. He’s at the moment on project in Korea.
Capt. Alisia Davis can be assigned to Charlie Firm, 429th BSB. She is a licensed medical social employee and authorized trauma specialist.
“One chapter does not inform the entire story,” Davis mentioned of his psychological well being philosophy. “Life occurs, you do not have to determine it out for your self.”
First Lt. James Parker, assigned to Medical Command, is a licensed medical social employee. Along with his function as a behavioral well being employee supporting service members within the VAARNG, he works full-time as a medical palliative care therapist serving to sufferers and households deal with life-limiting sicknesses.
“The best way we understand ourselves has a direct affect on our means to vary,” Parker mentioned of her psychological well being philosophy.
Workers Sgt. Ronnie Howard is the NCO in command of behavioral well being at Medical Command.
Howard’s psychological well being philosophy is a quote from Bessel Van Der Kolk in “The Physique Retains the Rating” – “Now we have discovered that trauma isn’t just an occasion that occurred up to now; it’s also the imprint left by this expertise on the thoughts, the mind and the physique.
sergeant. Cristen Hubbard, assigned to Charlie Co., 429th BSB, is a behavioral well being technician noncommissioned officer. Along with her function as a Behavioral Well being Technician, she works full-time as a Medical Information Room NCOIC for the Virginia Nationwide Guard.
“You’ll be able to’t pour from an empty pitcher, handle your self,” she mentioned, that is her psychological well being philosophy.
Lastly, Spc. Ian Gallaugher is a behavioral well being technician assigned to Charlie Co., 429th BSB.
“I perceive that generally there may be loads of problem in looking for assist with skilled providers,” Gallaugher mentioned. “Typically the very best first step might be simply speaking to somebody you already know and belief personally.”
The Virginia Nationwide Guard Behavioral Well being Staff might be contacted within the following methods:
Renee Hannah, LCSW
Senior Psychological Well being Coordinator
Cell: 434-480-6542
renee.s.hannah.ctr@military.mil
Ruth Ilboudo, LCSW
Psychological Well being Coordinator
Cell: 434-480-6534
ruth.v.ilboudo.ctr@military.mil
Marie Kennedy, LSM
Psychological Well being Coordinator (entrepreneur)
Cell: 434-480-6596
marie.n.kennedy2.ctr@military.mil
In a disaster for twenty-four/7 response, please name the Nationwide Suicide and Disaster Lifeline at 988.
