Memorial Day Weekend Message from ASDHA
Colleagues,
As many in our country prepare to welcome summer this weekend, those of us privileged to work in the
Military Health System know that Memorial Day is much more than an extra day off. We take this time to
remember the sacrifices of those who gave their lives in service so that we might remain a free
people. As Secretary Austin said last year at this time, “we hold in our hearts all those who fell to defend
the country that they loved.” Please take a few moments this weekend to reflect on the gratitude we
owe these fallen heroes.
In recent years we have come to more fully recognize that taking care of our people means treating
mental health with the same vigor and attention as physical health. May is Mental Health Awareness
month and I’d like to call attention to the many initiatives within the Department of Defense to advance
mental health care.
We offer a variety of behavioral health (BH) support services and resources. BH services are offered
through military medical treatment facilities (MTFs) and the private sector care network. Available
services include primary care BH, specialty BH, and alcohol and substance use programs as well as
inpatient hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs. Services available outside the MTFs include
Military and Family Life Counseling, Military OneSource, Family Advocacy Program, and inTransition, to
name a few.
The Targeted Care model helps the DoD provide mental health support for service members’ specific
needs, whether it is an individual appointment, group therapy or non-clinical support. It coordinates all
installation resources resulting in increased access to care, reduced wait times for mental health
appointments, increased readiness, and getting the right care at the right time through earlier
intervention. Results from the Targeted Care pilot validated increased BH access to care for those with
higher clinical needs and efficient use of other medical and non-medical helping resources. Beyond the
pilot sites, which are now in sustainment, there are eight additional early adopters and the Defense
Health Agency is currently working toward MHS enterprise adoption.
I am proud of these efforts, while acknowledging that we must always press forward to do more to meet
the mental health needs of our beneficiaries. I thank all of you who are involved in mental health care
for your commitment to this important priority.
I wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy Memorial Day.
Very Respectfully,
Lester
Lester Martínez-López, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
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