Mental health support available through base programs

  • Published
  • By Meredith March
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Air Force-wide, the Wingman BOLDFACE initiative encourages Airmen to make supporting each other a priority. Caring for oneself is just as vital, said Air Force Materiel Command Vice Commander Lt. Gen. Terry Gabreski in a Nov. 1 memorandum.

"Practicing good Wingman behavior needs to happen daily and includes knowing when and where to seek help for ourselves and our fellow Wingmen," she said.

Help for a variety of concerns is available to Air Force civilians and servicemembers through the Employee Assistance Program and Military OneSource, respectively.

Each program offers civilian or military employees and/or their dependents up to six free counseling sessions for personal or job-related issues.

Each EAP case is treated with complete confidentiality unless individuals are deemed a threat to themselves or others, said Ina Bachman, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Certified Employee Assistance Provider at Hanscom.

"Many people ask, 'Why would I want to go to a counseling service that my employer provides? I don't want my boss to find out about my personal problems.' My response is that your confidentiality is protected by law. We would be breaking your confidentiality if we revealed any contact you've had with the EAP to anyone, boss or family member included, without your written consent," Ms. Bachman said.

Military OneSource also guarantees confidentiality. "Your privacy is assured and no one knows you reached out for support unless there is a threat of harm to yourself or others," states the Web site at www.militaryonesource.com,

EAP and Military OneSource also offer legal, financial, substance abuse and child and elder care assistance, as well as other services. Regardless of the issue, personnel and their Wingmen have somewhere and someone to turn to if they need help.

"Understanding EAP and Military OneSource is one step in helping us to be alert, get involved and take action when required," said General Gabreski.

For more information on EAP, visit the Web site at www.foh4you.com or call (800) 222-0364.

For more information on Military OneSource, visit the Web site or call (800) 342-9647.