Every person goes through something with their mental health; sometimes it’s visible, and sometimes it’s not.

Mental health issues in the military are something not everyone is aware of. There are many reasons why they are facing such issues with their mental health, like frequent relocations, long separations, and mental stress.

That’s why mental support is very important to military families, as this helps them to be guided and have confidence in themselves that there are people who are by their side to support them.

This will help them to understand more about the challenges faced by military families and what they can do to have strong mental health support.

Challenges Faced by Military Families

Understanding the different challenges faced by military families is something someone outside the military can’t really understand. But if you are educated, there are ways to provide them with proper mental health support.

One of the most well-known challenges is frequent relocations, which can be disruptive for families, as moving frequently can lead to difficulty in establishing roots in one location.

Many military families face challenges when moving, as they are moving to a different area again, and they don’t know what to expect from the community; there are going to be a lot of adjustments. With this, it’s hard to connect with someone when moving frequently, as this leads to lost communication.

Another reason is long separations due to deployments; this can cause stress, anxiety, and emotional distress for military spouses or even children. A long time away without any day-to-day updates can be stressful as others are missing their partners, their fathers, or their mothers.

Above all, we don’t really know how military families are going through their everyday lives, but if we have the right resources to lend and offer support, it can be somehow easier for them.

Overcoming the Challenges

Having an effective solution for military families can overcome these mental health challenges.

In frequent relocations, there are many programs implemented for military families to feel that they are supported in this journey. Military families can use or join organizations specific to them, like the Military Family Readiness System, as this helps military families with assistance in different aspects, like relocation assistance, community integration support, and others.

Military families can also join online and local support networks on social media groups or community programs to quickly build connections or friends in their new location.

When it comes to long separations, military families can cope with this by sending each other personal letters and pictures of the recent events of their lives to keep each other updated, or you can even create souvenirs that remind you of each other and to keep it with you.

One of the things that can help overcome the challenges is to build a strong relationship with good communication and trust before deployment, as it can help you prevent stress that might lead to mental health issues.

Additionally, there are a lot of programs under the military for families that provide resources for those facing mental health issues in the military.

Asking for Help

It’s not often to reach out to people and ask for help when it comes to mental health issues, as reaching out for help can be hard for some, especially for military service members. People will think they are strong enough, and sometimes the stigma could affect them, making them not ask for help.

Not only them but their families, too, can be hesitant to seek help due to the stigma about mental health in our society, or another factor would be if they don’t know who to ask for help.

That’s why there are resources that military families can access when it comes to mental health support, like the Military OneSource, which provides free resources that are available for military families when they are seeking counseling services, education, and resources on different topics, including mental health.

There can be a stigma in asking for help, but it’s one of the steps you must face in order to get support for mental health issues.

How You Can Help

There are so many ways to help military families with mental health issues. By breaking the stigma surrounding mental health, you can start encouraging open conversations with military families. Let them know that this is a safe space and that you are not there to judge them but to support them.

One key thing in helping break the stigma is to educate yourself and other people about the importance of mental health support for military families. You can also help by supporting the people who are seeking help and promoting access to mental health care.

Not only can this be applied to military families but to different people so that we can succeed in breaking the stigma about mental health.

Mental health issues in the military sometimes are not being addressed, and families face different challenges throughout their lives, making sacrifices every day. Being aware, educated, and helping can support them with their mental health.

Read next:

• TRICARE Issues Continue as Milspouses Lose Coverage & Mental Health Providers Go Unpaid
• Trump’s Cuts to WTC Health Program Is Impacting Responders, Survivors, and Milspouses
• 5 Tips Every Milspouse Needs to Thrive During the First Deployment

Sources:

• The Importance of Mental Health Support for Military Families