Outreach Center Broadens Mental Health Resources

You are subscribed to American Forces News Articles for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Outreach Center Broadens Mental Health Resources 06/12/2013 07:36 AM CDT Outreach Center Broadens Mental Health Resources By Amaani Lyle American Forces Press Service ARLINGTON, Va., June 12, 2013 - Service members or anyone who bears the invisible scars of post-traumatic stress now have high-tech access to online resources to fight stress, depression and other psychological health concerns, a Defense Department official said here yesterday. The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Outreach Center is a 24-hour phone, chat and email portal open to everyone and provides access to resources and information related to psychological health and traumatic brain injury issues, said George Lamb, outreach chief for the centers. "Anybody can call if they need information on psychological health or traumatic brain injury," Lamb said. "We've received chats from downrange, where a service member has gone in [and] spoken with the doctor, and we were able to provide them the information they needed." The National Center for Telehealth and Technology is a DOD agency that has developed Web, mobile and virtual reality tools to target post-traumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injuries and to contribute to suicide prevention in the military community and beyond, he added. Apps include the T2 MoodTracker, which identifies triggers and improves the mood, and Breath2Relax, a portable stress management tool that uses breathing techniques to reduce stress, Lamb explained. In 2007, a mental health task force discovered a lack of mental health resources available to service members and others afflicted with psychological health problems, Lamb added. Family members, friends, veterans or service members themselves can use the resources. "It's free, and it's information that has been vetted by DOD," Lamb said. "We're not just doing Google searches and adding information to it." Lamb said callers in crisis can connect to coaches who work with suicide prevention teams or local authorities and maintain contact with the caller until help arrives. The Outreach Center also is available to clinical staff members who can in turn provide the resources and information to service members. "Even if the war was to end today, our service members still have the injuries that they've incurred in combat, and their family members are still going to have questions for years to come," Lamb said. "It's going to be enduring." For more information call 1-866-966-1020 or email resources@dcoeoutreach.org.   Related Sites: 24/7 Outreach Center National Center for Telehealth and Technology Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Related Articles: Program Aids Mental Health Care for Transitioning Troops   Defense Department News Through Facebook On American Forces Press Service's Facebook page, you can post comments and share news, photos and videos. Go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Forces-Press-Service/65137437532 or search for American Forces Press Service at Facebook.com. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time by clicking on your 'User Profile' page at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOD/subscriber/edit?preferences=true#tab1. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please e-mail support@govdelivery.com. Have another inquiry? Visit the online FAQ at http://www.defense.gov/landing/questions.aspx for up-to-date information. Get the help you, your family, and fellow servicemembers need, when you need it. Visit www.WarriorCare.mil to learn more. Check out the National Resource Directory at www.nationalresourcedirectory.org, a new web-based resource for wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans, their families, families of the fallen and those who support them from the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans Affairs. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of Defense. Visit us on the web at http://www.defense.gov/. Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense