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Military Health System

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Mental Health is Health

The Military Health System has many resources available to help service members, families, or veterans who are struggling with mental health challenges.

Military families' lives are generally very different from others. Service members may be subject to frequent relocations, deployments, and stressful experiences due to combat and time away from their families. Families cope with additional stressors when their loved ones are deployed, managing family life on the home front. Traumatic events such as combat, assault, or disasters can have long-lasting negative effects like trouble sleeping, increased anger, nightmares, anxiety, and alcohol and drug abuse. These factors combined with changes we've experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic may weigh on many.

Everyone reacts to stress and traumatic experiences differently, and while some have reactions that can be seen as normal responses to life events, others may experience signs or symptoms of more serious conditions.

Mental Health is Health

Get the Care You Need

TRICARE covers a wide range of mental health services and you can find services locally at your military hospital or clinic and within the military community.

See What TRICARE CoversGoes to TRICARE.mil Find Your Military Hospital or ClinicGoes to the MTF Locator

You are not alone.

If you're concerned that you or a loved one may be experiencing mental illness, you are not alone. Mental health is an important part of overall health and well-being, yet mental illness affects millions of people worldwide. Mental health disorders include anxiety, depression, seasonal affective disorder, or more serious illnesses as bipolar disorder, major depression, schizophrenia, PTSD, and more. Unfortunately, most people with mental illness do not receive mental health services that they need.

Do what feels right for you.

There isn't one way to think or feel or act. The important thing is to take advantage of all mental health care resources. Remember that every moment in time can affect you and others differently. Treatment is available.

The Brandon Act

The Brandon Act honors Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Caserta who died by suicide in 2018. The legislation was signed into law by President Joe Biden on Dec. 27, 2021, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. On May 5, 2023, DOD issued guidance to establish policy, assign responsibilities, and provide procedures for service members to initiate a referral for a mental health evaluation.

Military Health System Resources

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

inTransition Program

Military Crisis Line

Military OneSource

Psychological Health Resource Center

Real Warriors Campaign

Military Health System Web Pages

Military Hospitals and Clinics

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Walter Reed Expert Shares Five Ways to Prioritize Mental Health

Article Around MHS
5/26/2023
Dr. Diaz discusses the importance of mental fitness with U.S. Army Pvt. 2 Kaliyah Rowan at the Mental Fitness Information table during Staff Resiliency Week at Walter Reed. Diaz says prioritizing mental health is key to building resilience, and shared five ways staff members can do just that in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. (Photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jesse Sharpe, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center)

In today's fast-paced health care environment, it's more important than ever to prioritize mental health to build resilience, and in honor of National Mental Health Awareness Month and Staff Resiliency Week at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Dr. Kristine Diaz, a personnel psychologist, shares five ways staff members can prioritize their mental health to unlock resilience.

Managing Significant Life Events for Better Mental Health

Article
5/25/2023
Managing Significant Life Events for Better Mental Health

Significant life changes can be stressful and cause mental health issues, expected or not.

5 Tips To Start a Conversation About Getting Mental Health Care

Article
5/24/2023
5 Tips To Start a Conversation About Getting Mental Health Care

“How are you?” It’s a question almost everyone answers every day. Like most, your usual response is probably, “Fine, thanks. How are you?” But if you really think about it, are you fine? Maybe you haven’t been yourself in a while. You’re feeling sad, stressed, lonely, or just not how you want to feel. You’d like to start feeling better but aren’t sure where to start.

New Mental Health Care Initiative Improves Access to Care and Readiness

Article Around MHS
5/22/2023
A room plaque for the 341st Operational Medical Readiness Squadron mental health flight is pictured inside the base clinic June 23, 2021, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. The mental health flight offers mental health services to active duty members and manages the Family Advocacy and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment programs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Heather Heiney)

For more than a year, the Air Force Medical Service has been rolling out Mental Health Targeted Care, an initiative that helps Airmen and Guardians understand all of the available options for support and connects them to the right resource either in a mental health clinic or outside the military hospital with another supporting agency that best meets their need.

Changes in Behavior, Personality or Mood Following Concussion/mTBI Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet
5/22/2023

This TBICoE fact sheet can be used by health care providers to educate patients with a concussion, or mild TBI, on how to manage changes in mood related to their injury. Patients and caregivers would also find this information useful.

Targeted Care Pilot Aims to Match Demand for Mental Health Care

Article
5/17/2023
Targeted Care Pilot Aims to Match Demand for Mental Health Care

The DHA Targeted Care Pilot deployed to 10 sites in April 2023. The pilot, lasting six months, aims to alleviate the strained mental health system by matching service members to the care they need—wherever they are on a spectrum of mental health issues. Following the pilot, DHA will review results for the purpose of further refinement, continuation, and potential expansion.

inTransition FAQs

FAQs
5/10/2023

Frequently asked questions about the inTransition program

Real Warriors FAQs

FAQs
5/8/2023

Frequently asked questions and answers about the Real Warriors program

DOD Announces Implementation of the Brandon Act

Article Around MHS
5/5/2023
Signing of the Brandon Act

Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Gilbert Cisneros, Jr. signed a policy to implement of the Brandon Act and improve the process for service members to seek mental health support.

Brandon Act Aims to Improve Mental Health Support

Article Around MHS
5/5/2023
The Brandon Act Banner

Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr., undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, signed a policy today to initiate implementation of the Brandon Act and improve the process for service members seeking mental health support.

Near-Death Experience Gives Military Chaplain New Lease on Life

Article Around MHS
5/5/2023
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Bret Gilmore is a chaplain assigned to Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Gilmore shared his past struggles with alcoholism to remind others that they are not alone and help is available. For substance abuse support and resources, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 24/7 National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline. (Photo by Jason W. Edwards, Brooke Army Medical Center Public Affairs)

He had lost his family, his home and nearly his job, but it took a near-death experience for U.S. Army Lt. Col. Bret Gilmore to finally quit drinking and regain his life. The U.S. Army chaplain said it was a close call that he can't afford to repeat.

A Healthy Mind is a Healthy Body

Video
4/27/2023
A Healthy Mind is a Healthy Body

DHA Senior Enlisted Leader Chief Tanya Johnson talks about the importance of defending your mental health. For more information on DHA mental health resources, please visit www.health.mil/mentalhealth

Anxiety

FAQs
4/19/2023

Questions and answers about anxiety

Concussion Protocols Aid Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recovery

Article
4/17/2023
Concussion Protocols Aid Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recovery

Whether on the sport field or the battlefield, the Defense Health Agency is the global leader in research on the effects of concussion—known as mild traumatic brain injury—in the military. Its research has fueled the development of protocols to help providers assess and treat concussion from initial injury to acute and post-acute medical settings, rehabilitation, and, ultimately, a return to family, community, work, continued duty, or recreation.

Aerospace Medicine Branch Enhances Airmen Psychological Performance

Article Around MHS
4/14/2023
From left: Aeromedical and Operational Clinical Psychology, or AOCP, branch members Dr. Ivan Colin-Rivera, Lt. Col. Kristen Galloway, Dr. Rachael Martinez, Tech. Sgt. Christopher Thompson and Somtirtha Bag at a team event in the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, at High Bay at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (Photo by Jeremy Ward, U.S. Air Force)

The office of Aeromedical Operational and Clinical Psychology, or AOCP, offers aerospace and operational clinical consultation for units throughout the U.S. Air Force and has done so for over a decade.

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Last Updated: May 08, 2023
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