Mental health: More than a talking point

MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE-ALBANY — The onset of May marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month, where the Corps aims to raise awareness, fight stigmas, and prioritize the importance of Marines’ emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

While mental health should always be at the forefront of self-care and troop welfare, this month provides an opportunity for the world to focus on supporting those who are struggling.

Marines are encouraged to remind your brothers and sisters to take action to ensure mental fortitude. If a Marine next to you is struggling, guide them to where they can receive the necessary help.

The Marine Corps and Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany are engaged in the fight for mental health and to help create a movement for change.

The Military and Family Support Center is one part of a larger network of agencies, programs, services, partnerships and individuals that supports your personal and family readiness. The larger system called the Military Family Readiness System is a web of support for you and your family. The Military and Family Support Center should be one of your first stops once you arrive at a new installation. The programs and services they offer are a key resource for you and your family.

Base programs provide information, education and support programs to help balance the demands of military life. Offerings include:

— Deployment support to assist during all phases of the deployment cycle.

— Relocation assistance to help prepare for an upcoming move and get settled into a new location.

— Confidential non-medical clinical counseling provides support for a wide range of issues from marital conflicts and stress management to coping with grief and deployment adjustments.

— Personal and family life education assists with developing knowledge and skills to help navigate a mobile military life.

— Personal financial readiness assists in building and maintaining financial readiness.

— Employment assistance supports career exploration, education, training and licensing, career connections and employment readiness for military spouses, transitioning service members, and other family members.

— Information and referral can assist you in identifying and clarifying needs and locating and connecting to services and programs available both on and off a new installation.

Military and Family Support Centers may provide other programs as well

Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany