| | | May is Mental Health Month |  May is a special month for our nation's military: it is Military Appreciation Month, and includes Armed Forces Day on May 19th and Memorial Day on May 28th. The Real Warriors Campaign is grateful to America's service members and veterans, and appreciates the sacrifices they make every day. To express our appreciation, and in keeping with our mission to encourage service members with invisible wounds to seek help and support, we are offering resources especially for the military for Mental Health Month, which is also observed in May.
Encourage the warriors in your life to reach out for support. Send them one of our service-specific e-cards and let them know you care.
Read the psychological health-related articles on our website, including "Psychological Fitness — Keeping Your Mind Fit," which discusses how to develop a healthier mental state. You can also learn about the signs and symptoms of depression and how to treat it, or find out about the warning signs of suicide, as well as what tools and resources service members can use to seek treatment and support.
For information or help locating resources for psychological health, contact the DCoE Outreach Center at 866-966-1020 or log onto Real Warriors Live Chat . If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the Veterans Crisis Line for service members, veterans and families at 800-273-TALK and press 1.
|  | | New Articles | | Stay Connected With Deployed Parents |  It can be difficult for families to stay in touch or feel connected when a parent is deployed. With the use of online programs, families can maintain regular, private communication. Deployed parents can use online private chats and networks to interact with their children and assist their children with the adjustments associated with having a deployed parent. These sites can reinforce a parent's bond while away through creative, collaborative activities such as online scrapbooking, artwork and composing music. | | Coping With Separation |  Deployment or mobilization can be particularly challenging for children of National Guardsmen and reservists because they may not have the same community support system and resources that are available to active-duty families that live near or on a military installation. This article discusses ways that members of the National Guard and reserve and their families can help children cope with separation before and during deployment. | | | | Now Trending on Facebook: How would you help a friend adjusting after deployment? | Do you have advice on how to help a friend adjusting to post-deployment life? Post your tip now on the Real Warriors Campaign Facebook wall. Throughout May, we'll be welcoming home service members on Facebook and asking you to share tips to help these warriors reintegrate. Check out this advice from fans on helping friends adjust home after combat:
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| | Partner Spotlight |  | The Give an Hour is a nonprofit organization providing free mental health services to U.S. military personnel and their families affected by the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The organization consists of a network of volunteer mental health providers who donate an hour of their time each week to provide these free services. Recently, Give an Hour was one of five winners honored at the one-year anniversary of the White House's Joining Forces Community Challenge to support and honor America's service members and their families. Visit Give an Hour's website to learn more about the organization's latest achievement.
| | Real Warriors, Real Advice Podcast Series |  | | Profile: Real Warriors and Psychological Health |  | | Share Your Story | | The Real Warriors Campaign is looking for new profilees for our video profiles, which spotlight stories of real service members who have reached out for support or sought treatment and are continuing to maintain successful military or civilian careers. If this sounds like you, share your story with the Real Warriors Campaign. |  | |
Great advice, thanks for sharing.
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