News Release
Effectively Coping with Trauma and Grief While Serving in the Military
Release in PDF format
Take Mental Health To Heart campaign from Magellan Health
Services, National Military Family Association and Horizon Healthcare
Services provides information for members of the military and their
families
AVON, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
As America's service members face wars and conflicts on multiple fronts
and assist with recovery efforts in response to natural and man-made
disasters here at home, the possibility of experiencing a traumatic
event or the loss of a friend or colleague is great. While significant
progress has been made in recognizing and treating mental health
conditions such as post traumatic stress disorder, the stigma associated
with mental illness means that those who need help often suffer in
silence.
May is both National Mental Health Awareness Month and National Military
Appreciation Month, and Magellan Health Services (NASDAQ: MGLN) has
launched an initiative called Take
Mental Health To Heart, in conjunction with the National
Military Family Association and Horizon Healthcare Services, Inc. to
raise awareness about mental wellness topics impacting Americans. In its
inaugural year, the initiative highlights the distinct and complex
mental wellness issues that specifically affect the military community
by striving to create an understanding of the military population's
challenges, while working to combat the stigma that too often
accompanies mental illness.
Experiencing Trauma and Grief
Life in the military comes with the inherent risk that service men and
women could experience a traumatic event, whether it's the loss of a
fellow service member, a severe injury, a natural or man-made
catastrophe, or disturbing incidents of violence and human suffering.
The military provides a great deal of training and resources to help
troops prepare and cope with traumatic experiences, but it can be hard
to prepare for the impact of trauma and navigate the often confusing
grieving process that can follow. For some, the impact of trauma may not
be felt for months or years, when symptoms of post traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) may appear. The social stigma associated with mental
illness and PTSD also creates one more barrier for those in need of help.
"Whether on the front lines of war or responding to a disaster here at
home, America's service men and women often face some of the grimmest
situations imaginable, and that can have a lasting impact no matter how
much someone is prepared in advance," said Anthony Kotin, M.D., chief
medical officer at Magellan Health Services. "No one should be expected
to carry that burden alone, so it's important that we fight the stigma
of mental illness and remind those experiencing grief or symptoms of
post traumatic stress that grieving is normal and help is available."
For those experiencing stress or grief resulting from a loss or
traumatic event:
-
Give yourself time to heal. Allow yourself a period of mourning and
recovery from the loss or traumatic event. Try to be patient with
changes in your emotional state.
-
Ask for support from people who care about you and who will listen to
your experience. Communicate your experience in whatever ways feel
comfortable to you, such as by talking with family or close friends,
or putting thoughts down in a journal.
-
Identify military resources that can help you in your recovery, as
well as traditional resources such as counselors, chaplains and
support groups.
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At home and when possible during deployment, maintain healthy sleep
and eating habits and avoid drugs, caffeine and alcohol.
-
Help those you can. Helping others, even during your own time of
distress, can bring relief, raise your spirits and help you in your
recovery.
-
Avoid major life decisions such as switching careers or moving if
possible because these activities tend to be highly stressful.
Also, those experiencing a mental health crisis or feeling overwhelmed
by symptoms of PTSD should seek help immediately from a health care
provider, an emergency room, or by calling a hotline such as
1-800-273-TALK.
"Friends and family play a critically important supportive role in
helping loved ones find the help they need, whether they are soldiers
returning from duty or others who have experienced a traumatic loss,"
said Christy W. Bell, executive vice president, healthcare management,
Horizon Healthcare Services, Inc. "That's why everyone should make the
effort to better educate themselves on how to direct the people they
care about to services and programs that open the door to emotional
healing."
For more on this topic and other mental wellness information for members
of the military, veterans and their families, visit www.TakeMentalHealthToHeart.com.
Spreading the Word for a Good Cause
The interactive section of TakeMentalHealthToHeart.com
features free electronic "post cards" with a variety of images, messages
and a link to additional campaign resources. Cards can be sent to those
in the military community, offering words of support and appreciation,
and reminding recipients to make mental health a priority. Visitors can
also send a card to Magellan that will be shared with the National
Military Family Association and their members. For every e-card sent,
Magellan and Horizon Healthcare Services, Inc. will each donate $1 to
support the National Military Family Association, up to a combined total
of $50,000. The site also features a digital message wall where visitors
can share their stories, encouragement and words of gratitude for
members of the military and their families.
About Take Mental Health To Heart:
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month this May, Magellan Health
Services has launched Take Mental Health To Heart, a program to
promote good mental health as a key component to total wellness. The
theme for the inaugural 2011 program focuses on mental wellness for
members of the military and their families. On each Wednesday in May,
Magellan and its campaign partners — the National Military Family
Association and Horizon Healthcare Services, Inc. — will provide new
resources and information on topics from various phases of military
service such as preparing family and friends for a loved one's
deployment; mental wellness on duty; dealing with trauma, loss and
grief; and the transition to life after service. Information, videos,
online assessment tools and interactive elements are available at www.TakeMentalHealthToHeart.com.
About the National Military Family Association:
The National Military Family Association is the leading nonprofit
organization committed to strengthening and protecting the families of
the men and women currently serving, retired, wounded or fallen. The
Association provides families of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air
Force, Coast Guard, and Commissioned Corps of the USPHS and NOAA with
information, work to get them the benefits they deserve, and offer
programs that improve their lives. With more than 40 years of service
and accomplishments, the National Military Family Association is a
trusted resource for military families and the Nation's leaders. To
learn more, visit www.MilitaryFamily.org.
About Horizon Healthcare Services, Inc.:
Horizon Healthcare Services, Inc., New Jersey's oldest and largest
health insurer, is a not-for-profit health services corporation. Horizon
Healthcare Services, Inc., serves approximately 3.6 million members and
is headquartered in Newark with offices in Wall, Mt. Laurel, and West
Trenton. Horizon Healthcare Services, Inc., provides a wide variety of
health and dental insurance products and services, including Medicare
and Medicaid products, for businesses and individuals.
About Magellan: Headquartered in
Avon, Conn., Magellan Health Services, Inc. is a leading specialty
health care management organization with expertise in managing
behavioral health, radiology and specialty pharmaceuticals, as well as
public sector pharmacy benefits programs. Magellan delivers innovative
solutions to improve quality outcomes and optimize the cost of care for
those we serve. Magellan's customers include health plans, employers and
government agencies, serving approximately 31.5 million members in our
behavioral health business, 18.5 million members in our radiology
benefits management segment, and 4.9 million members in our medical
pharmacy management product. In addition, the specialty pharmaceutical
segment serves 41 health plans and several pharmaceutical manufacturers
and state Medicaid programs. The Company's Medicaid Administration
segment serves 25 states and the District of Columbia. For more
information, visit www.MagellanHealth.com.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6727954&lang=en
Magellan
Chris Pearsall, 860-507-1923
CMPearsall@MagellanHealth.com
Source: Magellan Health Services, Inc.
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