Connecting for Prevention: Impacting Mental Wellness

Moderated by former U.S. rep- resentative and Army veteran Patrick Murphy, the discussion focused on overcoming barriers preventing servicemembers and veterans from receiving treatment. Panelists singled out the stigma as- sociated with seeking and receiv- ing mental health care. Mary Ann Borgeson said, “The No. 1 issue is breaking that stigma,” while Maj. Gen. Mark Graham, USA (Ret), de- scribed a common attitude among those contacting Vets4Warriors for peer support: “I want to talk to someone I don’t know and I’m never going to meet.” Graham and other panelists also noted servicemembers and veterans have diffi culty accessing care due to both a lack of awareness (among

servicemembers as well as those they turn to for assistance) and a lack of availability; Rear Adm. Joan Feehan Hunter, USPHS, said 256,000 troops serving in reserve components live more than 30 minutes from a source of mental health care. Panelists agreed on the need

to ensure servicemembers and veterans receive evidence-based therapies from adequately trained providers. Noting that many in the larger military community receive care through civilian resources, Dr. Harold S. Kudler said, “I could retire if every clinician would ask, ‘Have you or anyone in your family served in the military?’ ” Col. Elspeth Cameron Ritchie,

USA (Ret), also observed, “We don’t talk enough about pain and disabil-

ity” and the connection to opioid addiction, while Navy Capt. Michael Colston, M.D., suggested medica- tion-assisted therapy is “vastly un- derused” to treat substance abuse.

Panel Participants 1 2 3 4 5 #WFS2015

Attendees and participants shared some of the symposium’s lessons on Twitter. Some highlights are in- cluded here and on page 61.

@laurenist: “When it comes to

veterans’ health care, there are no par- tisan solutions,” @VAChair Isakson. He gives kudos to White House, too.

PHOTOS: THIS SPREAD, SEAN SHANAHAN 6 7 @patriciakime: Powerful words

from Gold Star father Gen. Graham who lost son to suicide: I didn’t know you could die by being sad #Vets4Warriors

@Phoenixhouse: “Are we mov- ing the needle enough regarding mental health, sexual trauma & be- havioral health?” -Patrick Murphy, moderator at #WFS2015

1. Moderator: Patrick J. Murphy, partner, Fox Rothschild; anchor, MSNBC show Taking the Hill; former U.S. representative; nomi- nated, under secretary of the Army 2. Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, Neb., commissioner; Na- tional Association of Counties, Health Steering Committee chair 3. Capt. Michael Colston, USN, M.D., director of the Mental Health Program, Clinical and Program Pol- icy Offi ce of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Aff airs) 4. Maj. Gen. Mark A. Graham, USA (Ret), senior director, Rutgers UBHC National Call Center, Rut- gers University Behavioral Health Care; former deputy of chief of staff , FORSCOM G-3/5/7 5. Rear Adm. Joan Feehan Hunter, USPHS, assistant joint surgeon at the National Guard Bureau, Joint Surgeon General’s Offi ce, Psycho- logical Health 6. Harold S. Kudler, M.D., chief consultant for mental health, VA Central Offi ce, Washington D.C.; former mental health coordinator and assistant chief of psychiatry, Durham (N.C.) VA Medical Center 7. Col. Elspeth Cameron Ritchie, USA (Ret), M.D., M.P.H., chief clinical offi cer, Department of Mental Health, District of Colum- bia; professor of psychiatry, Uni- formed Services University of the Health Sciences

NOVEMBER 2015 MILITARY OFFICER 59