ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

Retired Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin served in the Army for 36 years and deployed to combat multiple times, all while battling undiagnosed bipolar disorder.

“Bipolar disorder … is not due to a lack of willpower or character, so don't blame the afflicted [individual]. Bipolar disorder can strike anyone,” Martin said Nov. 2 during an Association of the U.S. Army Noon Report webinar. “My life mission now … is sharing my bipolar story to help stop the stigma, promote recovery and save lives.”

Retired Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin, author of Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness, will speak Nov. 2 during the Association of the U.S. Army’s Noon Report webinar.

The presentation will begin at noon Eastern. It is free, but registration is required here.

Service members and their families could benefit from better access to military-specific care for mental health and substance use treatment, data from the Rand Corp. found. 

“Unlike civilian populations, service members and their families face unique stressors that have been documented as drivers of behavioral health care problems,” the report found. “Addressing the behavioral health care needs of the military and their families is important to ensure military readiness.” 

The latest edition of the Army’s annual Health of the Force report found that soldiers’ health has remained stable, but the service also dealt with a decrease in sleep and an increase in behavioral health diagnoses. 

Now in its eighth year, the 2022 Health of the Force report analyzed data for over 20 health, wellness and environmental indicators across 41 installations throughout 2021. 

“Every death of a soldier is a tragedy. Every death by suicide is even more tragic,” said James Helis, director of the Army Resilience Directorate. “It has cascading effects across the unit, to the battle buddies, to the squadmates, to the family, to the leaders. This is a problem that we have to stay on top of all the time.”

Speaking March 8 during an Association of the U.S. Army Noon Report webinar, Helis said that soldiers who die by suicide tend to be young, junior enlisted men experiencing a crisis.

An upcoming webinar hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army will highlight the Army’s efforts to reduce harmful behaviors and prevent suicide.

The online event on March 8 is part of AUSA’s Noon Report series. Beginning at noon Eastern, it will feature James Helis, director of the Army Resilience Directorate, and Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Thomas Solhjem, the Army’s chief of chaplains.

Veterans in acute suicidal crisis can receive care at any emergency health care facility at no cost under a new Department of Veterans Affairs policy.

Effective Jan. 17, the new policy provides veterans access to acute care, including inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days, according to a news release from the VA. Veterans do not need to be enrolled in the VA system to use this benefit. 

Citizen-soldiers should reconceptualize work-life balance, said the first Army Reserve woman to graduate from Ranger School.

“There is no such thing as work and life; it is a continuum,” Lt. Col. Lisa Jaster said Oct. 12 during a Warriors Corner talk at the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2022 Annual Meeting and Exposition. “It’s work-life support.” 

More than 274,000 soldiers serve in the Army Reserve, and 336,000 soldiers serve in the Army National Guard, according to DoD’s 2020 demographics profile. 

Questions about mental health and access to behavioral health providers prompted a frank discussion with Army senior leaders at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition.

Addressing a standing room-only, town hall-style forum with military families, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth gave her assurance that seeking help is “nothing to be ashamed about,” acknowledging that she has sought counseling during difficult times in her own life.