Deployment often effects

By Kristen Ward, TriWest Healthcare Alliance

No one is immune to the effects of deployments. However, deployment may increase the intensity of the experience for you, your spouse or child, resulting in some form of behavioral health issues. These issues can range from anxiety, depression, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and may even lead to thoughts of suicide.

May is “Mental Health Awareness Month” — a perfect time to learn the truth about some of common behavioral health myths.

Myth: Behavioral health issues only affect a small population of certain groups.

Fact: Approximately one in five adults struggle with a behavioral health disorder of varying degrees, making this more common than cancer, heart and lung disease combined. Behavioral health issues do not discriminate — problems can impact anyone regardless of ethnicity, age or gender.

Myth: I don’t have a behavioral health problem, I just need something to help me relax.

Fact: Often, people self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. Since alcohol is a depressant, it can lead to an increase in behavioral health symptoms and addiction problems.

Myth: Behavioral health disorders are untreatable.

Fact: The majority of people with behavioral health disorders improve when they receive appropriate treatment. A variety of treatments, including medications and short-term psychotherapies, have proven effective. Once you or your loved one is feeling better, treatment may need to be continued for several months—and in some cases, indefinitely—to prevent a relapse.

Myth: Seeing a provider is my only option for help.

Fact: Several options are available for assistance in learning and dealing with behavioral health related issues. These include:

“Help From Home” video series features military families who have faced the challenges of deployment and reintegration. This and other tools are available on the Behavioral Health portal of www.triwest.com.

TriWest also provides a 24/7 telephone access and crisis intervention services. Service members and their families in the TRICARE 21-state West Region can request assistance with a mental health crisis or with simple requests for behavioral health information by calling (866) 284–3743.

MilitaryOneSource.com has articles, booklets, audio CDs and other interactive tools to help you learn more about behavioral health issues.

If you still have questions about behavioral health, contact your health care provider for the real story, and to find the help needed when stress or depression, or emotional challenges that come with life are not resolving over time.