Army Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson
The aſt ernoon panel discus- sion, moderated by NBC News Correspondent Tracie Potts, ranged widely over topics such as the advantages of telehealth, mis- conceptions held by civilians, and improvements over the past decade in the availability of resources tar- geting military caregivers. “We want all of our veterans and families to be able to fi nd connec- tions to support,” said Donald Cooke. Participants found consensus in the idea that military mental wellness is a shared national responsibility. “All of us need to be responsible for taking care of each other,” said Jerry Sullivan. “Nobody does that better than the military.” Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth cautioned against suggesting military families “deserve all the attention
Panel Participants
1. Moderator: Tracie Potts, national affi liate correspondent, NBC News/ NBC News Channel 2. Donald A. Cooke, senior vice president, Philanthropy, Robert R. McCormick Foundation
60 MILITARY OFFICER NOVEMBER 2015
Drawing specifically on his experience as senior mis- sion commander at Fort Bragg, N.C., the Army’s larg- est base, Anderson focused on the challenges commanders face supporting mental well- ness among their troops, as well as among military veter- ans, retirees, family members, and survivors. Anderson emphasized the diversity of initiatives a com-
mander can use to support “readiness and resilience,” from wellness and transition programs to parent support. He also advocated partner- ing with local and national 501(c)(3) organizations to support installation efforts, drawing applause for the state- ment, “If somebody’s going to fire me for partnering with somebody helping my soldiers, they can fire me.”
Transitioning Nation: Our Response on Mental Wellness
because they’re broken,” noting that with a strong motivation to help oth- ers, military families can be assets in securing progress on mental health issues, such as traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress, that aff ect civilians as well. Kayla Williams, an Army veteran whose military husband has dealt with post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, and depression, noted the couple “found a lot of healing by advocating for improvements.” Toward the close of the panel discussion, Marjorie Morrison suggested, “Everybody in America serves; you either go serve our country in the military or serve those who served when they come home. Not because … they’re bro- ken, but because that’s an American thing to do.”
3. Marjorie Morrison, LMFT, LPCC, CEO and founder of PsychArmor; author of The Inside Battle: Our Mili- tary Mental Health Crisis 4. Jerry Sullivan, Psy.D., general manager, Medicare and Federal Channels, Government Programs, Optum Behavioral Health Solutions 5. Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth,
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Ph.D., M.S., M.B.A.; director at Center for Families; director at the Military Family Research Insti- tute; professor of Human Develop- ment and Family Studies, Purdue University 6. Kayla Williams, senior project associate at RAND Corp.; combat Army veteran; author
PHOTOS: THIS SPREAD, SEAN SHANAHAN
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