User talk:RedditNavy

== PLEASE GO GET HELP. THE NAVY, AND ALL OF YOUR SHIPMATES, WANT YOU TO BE THE BEST POSSIBLE FUNCTIONING YOU. THE NAVY WILL DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO GET YOU TO 100%. GOING TO TALK TO MENTAL HEALTH DOES NOT MEAN YOU’LL BE KICKED OUT OF THE NAVY. ==

MYTH: Admitting you have considered suicide or seeking help for medical attention will ruin your career.

FACT: This is the most untrue statement ever. PRC(AW/IDW/EXW) Jeromy Kelsey is a great example of how you can progress after mental health treatment. Watch his interview here (trigger warning: he speaks of traumatic sexual abuse in his early life). If you commit suicide, your career is absolutely over—because you won’t around to have a career. If you go get help, you can go on to have a fantastic career. Please don’t end your life, and your career, to suicide.

MYTH: Talking to a mental health professional will automatically get back to your chain of command.

FACT: If you are just going in to talk to mental health for a routine mental health visit, your chain of command is only required to know that you have a medical appointment. HIPAA and Privacy Act still applies. All your command gets to know is you have an appointment and if you're fit for full duty.

DODI 6490.8 directs that providers shall only notify the line commander when one of the following conditions is met

1. Harm to self--serious risk of self-harm as a result of the condition or medical treatment of the condition

2. Harm to others--serious risk of self-harm as a result of the condition or medical treatment of the condition

3. Harm to mission--Serious risk of harm to a specific military operational mission such as risks that impact judgment

4. Special personnel--service member is in the PRP or in some other position that has been pre-identified as having mission responsibilities

5. Admitted to or discharged from any In-Patient Care

6. Acute Medication Conditions that will interfere with duty (medicine that might make it unsuitable for you to stand an armed watch or operate heavy machinery)

7. Admitted to or discharged from any Substance Abuse Treatment Program

8. Command-directed mental health evaluation

9. Other special circumstances--this is determined by a health care provider and CO at the O6 and above level.

DODI 6490.8 further clarifies that only the minimally necessary information may be disclosed:

1. Diagnosis

2. Any recommended duty restrictions

3. Treatment plan

4. How the command is expected to support the service member's treatment

MYTH: Mental health complications can get your security clearance revoked.

FACT: Not usually, but in rare cases. If you are diagnosed with a mental health disorder that can’t be treated and/or you are diagnosed with a mental health disorder and refuse treatment (you stop taking prescribed medication for example), this puts you at great risk of losing your clearance. An example of this is if you are diagnosed with Alcohol Use Disorder and refuse to follow the treatment plan—that could put you at risk of losing your clearance.

''Executive Order 12968, dated August 4, 1995, states that "no negative inference concerning eligibility for access to classified information may be made solely on the basis of mental health counseling." …When self-initiated, treatment is often a favorable indication that the subject recognizes the problem and is taking care of it….When investigative results are reviewed to make a security clearance decision, the fact that the individual voluntarily sought professional help is a significant positive factor in the decision.''

Less than 1% of security clearances are revoked due to mental health reasons.

MYTH: I will not be allowed to stand armed watches.

FACT: Sometimes. This is almost always when the medication you’re on could *potentially* put you or others at risk. However, this is a temporary situation until your treatment plan is finalized and you make a recovery. (99% of sailors who sought treatment were returned to their units and jobs--still waiting on the source for this, apparently it's in the Navy's Deep Dive Suicide Cross Disciplinary Study but the only thing I can find is here: http://www.navy.mil/docs/taskforceresilientfinalreport.pdf)

MYTH: People go to mental health to get out of work or because they're weak.

FACT: Only the strongest people recognize they need help and go get it.

What resources are available to you? A lot! Please use them. Don't make a decision that is irreversible.
Suicide Hotline 1 (800) 273-8255

Pros:


 * Free


 * Anonymous

Cons:
 * Confidential


 * Not able to give treatment or medication.


 * One-time conversation: you can call as many times as you need to, but there is no continuity of care so you may have to reexplain yourself if you call a second time and get someone else on the other end of the line.

Can be reached at:


 * 1 (800) 273-8255

Command Chaplain

Pros:


 * According to SECNAVINST 1730.9 everything you say to the Chaplain is absolutely held in confidence. Only you can tell other people what you said to the Chaplain. The Chaplain can’t even be made to testify against you or about what you said, so go ahead and confess to murder if you want.


 * Navy Chaplains, unlike civilian members of various religious groups, do not care about converting you to their religious beliefs. You can be a member of the Church Of The Flying Spaghetti Monster and they will not once try to discuss doctrine or make efforts to convert you. They may ask what you believe, in order to provide you with the best possible service (e.g., if you’re Jewish and talking to a Muslim Chaplain, they may ask if you’d prefer if they go get the Jewish Chaps for you). Talking to Chaps will only be as religious as you want it to be. Think of Chaps as a Professional Best Friend, always ready to listen and understand no matter what your situation is.


 * They’ve heard it all before. It’s very hard to shock a Chaps. Rape, suicide, financial issues, abusive wife, sex addiction, your chief hurt your feelings, you think you’re a failure because you accidentally burned some cookies for the command bake sale, whatever. I promise, Chaps has heard it all before and won’t be scandalized or upset with whatever you need to talk about.

Cons:


 * They cannot offer professional counselling, medication, or treatment.


 * They cannot leave you if they think you're a danger to yourself or to others--so you may find yourself strongly encouraged to go to medical with them.

Can be reached at:


 * 1-855-NAVY-311 or text to Navy311@navy.mil

Fleet and Family Center

Pros:


 * Free
 * Confidential
 * No referral required from your command

Cons:


 * Limited services
 * Not able to prescribe medication

Can be reached at:


 * https://cnic.navy.mil/ffr/family_readiness/fleet_and_family_support_program.html

Mental Health Counselors on Base

Pros:


 * Medically trained and licensed professionals.


 * Can prescribe medication


 * Will work with you to develop a treatment plan.


 * Fall under BUMED and DODI 6490.08 and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) laws and are restricted about what they can tell your command


 * Your command must accommodate their directions. You will usually find that your command will be overly solicitous in trying to help you with your recovery program. Nobody at your command is allowed to form any sort or reprisal against you or hinder you from receiving treatment.

Cons:


 * If they think you're a danger to yourself or others, they are required by law to intervene. This may mean you find yourself getting treatment that you may not want initially.


 * Sometimes getting an appointment can be difficult. If your immediate situation is not life-threatening, they want you to be referred to them from your Primary Medical Care Provider, Ship's Independent Duty Corpsman or from the counselors at Fleet and Family.

Additional Note:


 * 99% of sailors who go to mental health and seek treatment are returned to their normal job, with normal clearances. (

Military Crisis Hotline

Pros:


 * Free


 * Anonymous

Cons:
 * Confidential


 * Not able to give treatment or medication.


 * One-time conversation: you can call as many times as you need to, but there is no continuity of care so you may have to reexplain yourself if you call a second time and get someone else on the other end of the line.

Can be reached at:


 * Dial: 1-800-273-8255 and press one (if you don’t press one, it will route your call to the National Suicide Hotline instead of a Veteran-Specific call center)
 * text 838255
 * online chat
 * In Europe call 00800 1273 8255 or DSN 118 (may not be toll free for all areas or providers)
 * In Korea call 0808 555 118 or DSN 118
 * In Afghanistan call 00 1 800 273 8255 or DSN 111

More Resources
All The Official Navy Resources on Suicide Prevention

OPNAVINST 1720.4A: The official Navy Suicide Prevention Program instruction.

Everyday ways YOU can promote Suicide Prevention Awareness!

What's In A Word? How we talk about suicide matters. The words we use carry meaning, and it's important that we do not glamorize suicide or or use judgmental words.

ASSIST! Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training – This course equips participants to act as “first responders” to a person at risk of suicide.

SAIL Sailor Assistance and Intercept for Life is a workshop that will give you skills and tools necessary to intervene and help your shipmates!