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It’s Okay to Ask for Help – Reaching Out is a Sign of Strength

Stigma remains a significant barrier to seeking mental health care in the military. Around 60-70% of service members who experience mental health problems do not seek mental health services. Both providers and patients have access to resources, making it easier to seek help. We can all do our part to challenge the stigma and encourage others (and ourselves) to ask for help.

Take the First Step

Military life is rewarding, but it isn’t always easy. Check out the Real Warriors Campaign to learn how service members are taking action for their mental health. I Can, I Will stay mission ready. Take the first step.

Where to Seek Help

Military/Veterans Crisis Line

800-273-8255, service members and veterans, press 1

veteranscrisisline.net

Psychological Health Resource Center

The Psychological Health Resource Center, a 24/7 phone line available to service members, veterans, clinicians, and their families, at (866) 966-1020. Don’t forget to also check out their invaluable resources.

866-966-1020

www.health.mil/PHRC

Real Warriors

The Real Warriors Campaign encourages the military community to reach out for help when coping with the daily stresses of military life, or concerns like depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder.

www.health.mil/realwarriors

My HealtheVet

This online portal helps veterans schedule appointments online, refill prescriptions, view their health records, and send secure messages to their medical team.

www.myhealth.va.gov

Military OneSource

Military OneSource provides military personnel and their families a 24/7 gateway to trusted information, resources, and confidential help.

800-342-9647

www.militaryonesource.mil

Helpful Apps

The following apps are available on the App Store and Google Play and can be used in between mental health appointments:

Breathe2Relax Provides instruction on diaphragmatic "belly" breathing, which helps lower stress and reduce anxiety. Graphics, animation, narration, and videos lead users through several breathing exercises.

Positive Activity Jackpot Helps users who may be overwhelmed by depression find nearby enjoyable activities. Can't decide? Let the app's jackpot function make the choice. See "Resources" for a clinician's guide.

Provider Resilience Gives health care providers tools to manage burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress, keeping them productive and emotionally healthy as they help others.

Tactical Breather Provides guided breathing instruction to gain control over heart rate, emotions, concentration, and other physiological and psychological responses during stressful situations

Virtual Hope Box Contains simple tools to help users with coping, relaxation, distraction, and positive thinking using personalized audio, video, pictures, games, mindfulness exercises, activity planning, inspirational quotes, and coping statements.

A New Way to Meet with Your Military Health Care Team

You and your family can conveniently get care in a new and easy way. All active duty service members, retirees, and families enrolled in a military hospital or clinic can now use MHS Video Connect - the Military Health System's web-based telehealth solution to access care.