Staying "Fit-to-Fight"! Navigating Services in Military Mental Health with Major Amileah Davis, Licensed Psychologist

Stay fit to fight!

 

Major Amileah Davis is a licensed Counseling Psychologist and is currently serving on active duty in the United States Air Force. She completed her Ph.D. at New Mexico State University, and her clinical work emphasizes evidence-based practice, trauma treatment, prevention, cross-cultural psychology, and organizational consultation. Major Davis has led two mental health clinics, a substance use clinic, a family treatment program, and a base-wide suicide prevention program. She has also deployed to several countries in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, and the Global War on Terror.

Major Davis and I have discussions about:

• Confidentiality for military members seeking mental health services.
• Various levels of care available to Active Duty Members as well as Veterans.
• What therapists who treat military members should do to improve their practices and cultural competency.

Mentioned in the podcast and more provided by Major Davis:

Resources for service members, veterans, and their families:

Services offered by Department of Defense (DoD) & Veterans Affairs (VA):

-          Chaplain

-          Mental health clinic

-          Substance use clinic

-          Family Advocacy Program

-          Military Family Life Counselors

-          Veterans Crisis Line – 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1)

-          Many mores services available, depending on your service branch!

 

Programs highlighted in the podcast:

-          BHOP Factsheet

-          VA Coaching into Care Program

-          SOCOM Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF) program

 

Other services

-          Military OneSource

-          Give an Hour

 

Excerpt from “Eradicating Mental Health Stigma in the Military and Beyond”

 

Reasons to defy unjustified stigma and seek treatment:

ü  Your life is more valuable than the uninformed opinions of others who have not walked in your shoes.

ü  By speaking up, you are not only helping yourself, you are giving permission for others to do the same.  

ü  You are part of the fight against stigma.

ü  You are taking a step toward self-empowerment.

ü  Your friends and family will thank you.

ü  Your future self will thank you.

Resources for mental health providers

-          Continuing education offered by the Center for Deployment Psychology (including a FREE cultural competence course!)

-          DoD/VA Clinical Practice Guidelines providing evidence-based recommendations for suicide risk assessment, depression, PTSD, and substance use among service members and veterans

-          Volunteer with Give an Hour

-          Air Force careers for clinical/counseling psychologists and LCSWs

-          Military and other government careers via USAJobs.gov

-          Military Command Exception and HIPAA

 

 

If you have a question about any of the resources listed here or how to find other services in your area, please contact www.instagram.com/throughtheeyesofatherapist

 

Please review my podcast on iTunes or Google!  Visit my FB page for Ask-A-Therapist LIVE every other Monday!

 

*All content in this podcast is for informational purposes only.  You should always consult with your own doctor or mental health professional.*

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger call 911, Text 741-741, or visit your local emergency room.*