The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in the U.S. since 1949. In the past few years, the Army has looked at its resources and programs available to Soldiers and worked to improve upon them based on the feedback from and needs of Soldiers and leaders.

The purpose of this movement is to raise awareness about mental health and to fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for mental health policies.

Following the 2020 Annual Suicide Report, Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth and Gen. James McConville, Army chief of staff, highlighted the need to take care of people.

“We have a special obligation to make sure we are taking care of our people,” say Wormuth and McConville. “Leaders at every level of the Army are committed to identifying approaches that support suicide prevention. While there is no clear understanding of what is causing the increase in suicides, we realize we have to do better in preventing suicide and ensure resources are available and readily accessible.”

Unlike other organizations, Soldiers in the Army work and live together in an environment that encourages and thrives on teamwork to accomplish missions. This close-knit work environment provides an opportunity for Soldiers to get to know one another on more personal levels.

Through programs like ACE (Ask, Care, Escort), the Army encourages intervention when Soldiers feel someone they know is not doing well or their mental health is not as strong as usual.

Below are some things that Soldiers can do when they are feeling less confident than usual and things they can do to prevent themselves from falling into crisis mode:

• Reduce stressors you can control.
• Increase the use of supports including behavioral health services and military life counselors.
• Use resources the Army offers that can help regardless of the degree of challenge you are facing.
• Get mental health checkups; these can be routine, just like routine dental and primary care checkups.

If Soldiers are ever in crisis and need to speak with someone immediately, they can access the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. The lifeline is available 24/7 to Soldiers and anyone who needs assistance or someone to listen.

All Army posts have army community services (ACSs). ACSs are empowered teams that provide comprehensive, coordinated, responsive advocacy and prevention, information and referral, outreach, financial support, employment, Soldier and Family readiness, and exceptional Family member and relocation assistance services that support the readiness and well-being of Soldiers, their Families, Civilian employees and retirees.

Military OneSource is a 24/7 communication portal where Soldiers can call, text or email for information, get answers to help reach their goals, overcome challenges and thrive. For more information, visit https://www.militaryonesource.mil/about-us/.

There are many resources available to Soldiers when they feel as if times are tough. No one should ever feel alone.

For more information go to:

Ready and Resilient Homepage

Resilience In Focus

*Written by Antwaun J. Parrish, Army Resilience Directorate