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JOINT
BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. - The old saying goes, “if the
military wanted you to have a family, they would have issued you
one.” However, that ideology no longer exists and has been replaced
by an effort to strengthen military service members and their
families.
 Studies show that family, financial and legal
issues can cause anxiety and other mental health issues within the
Marine Corps. If not identified early, these issues can lead to
domestic violence, and in some cases suicide.
When domestic
violence victims ask for help, it is usually not as a result of the
worst incident they have dealt with at home, according to Kati
Groseclose, education and prevention specialist on Henderson Hall.
“The victims usually have faced more difficult issues
than what is reported,” said Groseclose. “We teach coping
skills as early on as possible, so as life happens Marines
can deal with ‘last straw incidents' and don't feel like
they are unmanageable, and have the confidence and tools to
cope.”
From the junior service members to retirees,
Henderson Hall Marine and Family Programs uses mental health
research from universities and institutions along with
programs developed on the joint base and other military
installations to serve families' needs, according to Groseclose.
“The
evidence-based research programs focus on work and family
life at three levels of prevention universal, selected or
indicated,” said Groseclose. “We provide programs from
Yale's consultation center within the division of prevention
and community research.”
Programs tailored by the
behavioral health branch, or branches on other
installations, are not based on researched-backed evidence.
However, they have been proven to benefit specific community
needs within the armed services, according to Groseclose.
“We serve the entire National Capital Region, every
Marine north of Quantico,” said Groseclose. “Including a
couple units in Baltimore, reserve components and all of the
Marines in the Pentagon.”
Concerns brought to MCCS
range from substance abuse, new family support and
counseling for couples. These issues are found across the
armed services, according to Groseclose.
“There is a
certain level of stress that goes along with wearing a
uniform,” said Groseclose. “A lot of anxiety and anger
problems come up, but we like to tell people anger is a
normal emotion, it is all how you respond.”
Resources
are available for Marines, attached Sailors and their
families dealing with mental health issues. Embedded
providers, which are local installation civilian counselors,
the DSTRESS line, 1-877-476-7734 and local military
treatment facilities complement each other to create a
network of support meanwhile the Marine Corps and Navy
medicine continue to work together to identify and reduce
gaps in psychological health prevention and treatment,
according to Adam Walsh, community counseling and
prevention, Marine and Family Programs Division
Headquarters.
“The Marine Corps implements a public
health model addressing the prevention, identification,
treatment and reintegration phases of stress management,”
said Walsh. “This means that all Marines are provided
training and education on identifying risk and protective
factors related to behavioral health issues.”
The
behavioral health branch tackles those issues from a total
health perspective, including proper nutrition, which is
taught at a warriors at ease course that pairs healthy
eating, anger management and yoga for warriors, according to
Groseclose.
Marine and Family Programs' services are
open to all service members, retirees and their families.
Article by Damien Salas
Image by Helen Klein
Joint Base
Myer-Henderson Hall
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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