Author: Joel Schofer, MD, MBA, CPE
Lifestyle Medicine (LM) Week from 21-26 May 2023
Mark your calendars for Lifestyle Medicine (LM) Week from 21-26 May 2023. LM Weekis a global celebration of healthy behaviors and a public awareness campaign that focuses on the six pillars and the impact our choices can have on chronic disease. Each day will focus on a certain pillar, offering a framework for people to understand healthy living practices and take steps to better their own health.
May 21: Day 1- Stress Management
May 22: Day 2- Physical Activity
May 23: Day 3- Nutrition
May 24: Day 4- Avoid Risky Behavior
May 25: Day 5- Social Connection
May 26: Day 6- Sleep
Please share and ensure wide dissemination of attached education and resources with the military and civilian population. We hope you will join us in celebrating! To learn more about L&PM, on 30 May, there will be a L&PM Lecture Series presentation To join the Coalition of Interested and support L&PM efforts.
If there are questions the Air Force Lifestyle & Performance Medicine Working Group Chair is Col Mary Anne Kiel, via email at LifestylePerformanceMed@gmail.com.
Air Force Lifestyle & Performance Medicine Working Group
LifestylePerformanceMed@gmail.com
***Register to join the L&PM Coalition of the Interested!***
Register: https://forms.gle/ATCPWEcobKyWJSs48
A message from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
MHS Colleagues,
Mental health care is a priority focus for the Military Health System every single day, but as May is Mental Health Awareness Month, I wanted to highlight the effort we are making to address this critical need.
Secretary Cisneros signed the implementing policy for the Brandon Act on May 5, with Teri and Patrick Caserta present. The Act, designed to help service members access timely mental health evaluations, is named for their son Brandon, a young sailor who died by suicide. We welcome this measure as part of our approach to suicide prevention and mental health and it was a privilege to meet the Casertas.
One of my personal goals is to do everything possible to eliminate the stigma that too often still inhibits our people from seeking and getting care. Mental health is health, period – and we need to embrace that fact and encourage and support people in need of this care. We are working to develop training to help educate those in leadership roles on how to support their people, to look for signs that someone is struggling and to enable them to get help. Efforts are underway to address the shortage of mental health providers in our system. We know the answers aren’t simple, but we are committed to finding them.
There is a wide range of resources available to help us all learn more about mental health, and they can be found here: Mental Health Spotlight. Please take time to learn about them, to know what is available and how to access them. Our collective success in improving mental health across the total force starts with an individual commitment by each of us, to learn as much as we can about this issue and how to put the resources we have in play, to demonstrate by our own actions and words the importance of mental health. We need to normalize seeking mental health care so it becomes as accepted as seeing a doctor for the flu or a broken bone.
As leaders of the MHS, we have a particular responsibility to help move these goals forward. I know I can count on you to keep mental health priorities in mind this month, and throughout the year.
Very Respectfully,
Lester
Lester Martinez-López, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
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Mental Health Awareness Month Message
CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 101606Z MAY 23 MID600053003653U FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC TO ALNAV INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC CNO WASHINGTON DC CMC WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS ALNAV 040/23 MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/MAY/ SUBJ/MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH// RMKS/1. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an opportunity to help each other recognize the many ways that behavioral health conditions impact our lives, as well as our individual and team readiness. It is also an opportune time to remind ourselves to advocate for those experiencing life stressors, as well as an opportunity to highlight existing resources and services available to the Navy and Marine Corps team to ensure the delivery of the most appropriate service to meet Service Member needs. Military service can be complex, presenting stressors that are wide-reaching and have readiness impacts to our Sailors, Marines, their families, and our civilian workforce. As you stand the watch on behalf of the American people, I ask you to take time to look out for yourself and those who serve alongside you. I encourage you to reach out to others and focus on fostering social connectedness, particularly those connections that may have been weakened during the pandemic. Social connectedness is integral to our readiness as it not only improves our mental health and well-being but strengthens our immunity and can even increase our longevity. You are never alone and there is no wrong door to get help. We have a full range of mental health resources that include mental health and medical professionals, family counselors, chaplains, and other support services to help you get the right care, at the right level, when you need it. Mental health services are available across the globe at military medical treatment facilities, above, on, and below the sea, and embedded within operational units. We have non-medical mental health resources available through our Fleet and Family Support Centers, Marine Corps Community Services, Military and Family Life Counseling, Deployment Resiliency Counselors, the Psychological Help Outreach Program, Veterans Affairs Vet Centers, and Military OneSource. Our chaplains provide confidential counseling and foster spiritual readiness. Our civilian teammates can access a wide range of services through the Civilian Employee Assistance Program. Share with others when you have positive experiences seeking and receiving counseling. I especially encourage leaders to set this example. We have a duty to remove stigma, and encourage others to make time for their mental health. Your actions can encourage a shipmate to get the help they need. Check in often with your fellow Sailors and Marines. Help them feel more socially connected. Do not wait until you see them struggling. When they need additional support, help them get connected to services that can provide assistance. You can be the difference. Together, we must fight stigma, promote mental health education, and normalize taking care of our mental health. 2. Released by the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy. BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//
Warning to Avoid Ingestion of Poppy Seeds
CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//
ROUTINE
R 281906Z APR 23 MID600052988941U
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
TO ALNAV
INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
CNO WASHINGTON DC
CMC WASHINGTON DC
BT
UNCLAS
ALNAV 035/23
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/APR//
SUBJ/WARNING TO AVOID INGESTION OF POPPY SEEDS//
REF/A/DOC/SECNAVINST 5300.28F/23APR19//
REF/B/USD-PR MEMORANDUM "WARNING REGARDING POPPY SEED CONSUMPTION AND
MILITARY DRUG TESTING"/17FEB23//
NARR/REF A IS SECNAVINST 5300.28F MILITARY SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION AND
CONTROL. REF B IS OFFICE OF UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PERSONNEL AND
READINESS MEMORANDUM ENTITLED "WARNING REGARDING POPPY SEED CONSUMPTION AND
MILITARY DRUG TESTING."//
RMKS/1. The Department of the Navy (DON) is committed to deterring the
illicit use of drugs and misuse of prescription medications. Consequently,
all Sailors and Marines are subject to random, frequent urinalysis testing in
accordance with reference (a). Additionally, the DON remains vigilant in
identifying products and sources that can adversely impact the drug testing
program.
2. Poppy seeds may be contaminated with morphine and codeine during the
harvesting process. Accordingly, the Department of Defense utilizes drug
testing cutoff concentrations to distinguish codeine and morphine use from
poppy seed ingestion.
3. Reference (b) highlights recent data indicating that certain varieties of
poppy seeds may have higher codeine contamination than previously
reported. Consumption of poppy seed products could cause a positive codeine
urinalysis result and undermine the DON's ability to identify illicit codeine
use.
4. To protect Service Members and preserve the integrity of the drug testing
program, it is necessary to issue a non-punitive warning to avoid consumption
of poppy seeds. This policy may be revised as additional information becomes
available.
5. Effective immediately:
a. Sailors and Marines are warned to avoid consumption of poppy seeds as
well as food products and baked goods containing poppy seeds, poppy seed
paste, or poppy seed oil. Ingestion of certain poppy seeds may result in a
positive urinalysis that will, at a minimum, trigger administrative actions
to adjudicate the positive result.
b. Sailors and Marines are directed to coordinate with their local
Defense Services Office for any related concerns with urinalysis results.
6. The primary point of contact for this message is the Assistant Secretary
of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Drug Demand Reduction Program.
a. For Marine Corps commands: Ms. Carrie Knox, e-mail at carrie.knox
@usmc.mil or (703) 432-1359.
b. For Navy commands: Ms. LaNorfeia Parker, e-mail at
lanorfeia.parker.civ@us.navy.mil or (901) 874-4249.
7. This ALNAV is effective immediately until superseded or cancelled,
whichever comes first.
8. Released by the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy.//
BT
#0001
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CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//
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