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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Breaking silence: Shattering the taboo of mental healthPublished May 15, 2023
                    
                    By Capt. Nicholas Choy
                    
                    
                    42nd Operational Medical Readiness Squadron
            **MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFNS)  --**May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental illness.
As members of the Air Force community, it’s important that we prioritize our mental health and encourage others to do the same.

Mental health isjust as critical to overall well-being as physical health. It’s common for people to focus on physical health and neglect their mental health but this can have serious consequences. Untreated mental illness can lead to problems such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse and suicide. The Air Force community faces unique challenges that can affect mental health. Deployment, long hours and high-stress situations can take a toll on our mental well-being. It’scrucial to recognize when we’re struggling and to seek help when we need it. There are many resources available to help maintain mental health in the Air Force.******Military OneSource******is a free resource that offers confidential counseling and support to service members and their families. The Air Force also offers mental health services through the chaplain,******Military and Family Life Counselors**, Outpatient Behavioral Health andthe installation mental health clinic.

In addition to seeking professional help, there are steps we can take to maintain our mental health. Exercise, healthy eating and gettingadequate sleep are all important for both physical and mental health. Practicing mindfulness and stress-management techniques can also help us cope with stress and anxiety.

It’sessential to remember that mental health is a key component of overall readiness. By taking care of our mental health, we are better equipped to meet the challenges we face as members of the Air Force family.

This Mental Health Awareness Month. Let’s prioritize our mental health and encourage others to do the same. Together, we can reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and ensure that everyone has access to the resources they need to maintain their mental well-being.

*Capt. Nicholas Choy is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist and Medical Director of Mental Health Clinic at the 42ndMedical Group, Maxwell Air Force Base.*LR 



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