Page 2 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt July 1 2016

July 2016 Commentary Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
2 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
Living with mental illness
PHONE NUMBERS
by Capt. know when it is time to get help for a mental or emotional
Airman’s Attic ......................................................................... 623-856-6415 DONALD WILLIAMS issue. The military has made strides in bringing awareness
Airman and Family Readiness Center ................................. 623-856-6550 to mental illness and addressing the stigma that comes
Armed Forces Bank ............................................................... 623-535-9766 5th Medical Group with mental health, but we still have work to do. I would
Base Exchange Main Store ................................................... 623-935-2671 like to invite you to consider the many encounters and
Base taxi ................................................................................... 623-856-6866 MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. — Defective. Weak. interactions you have on a daily basis with people. Do you
Beauty shop ............................................................................. 623-536-1897 Soft. Broken. Crazy. Compromised. Unfit. Career-ending. really know the person with whom you are interacting?
Chapel ...................................................................................... 623-856-6211 Have you considered that a loved one or friend may wear a
Chapel (after duty hours) ....................................................... 623-856-5600 These are just some of the words that people may associ- mask to cover up problems and challenges for fear that oth-
Child Care Center ................................................................... 623-856-6338 ate with mental illness. Sadly, the sentiment behind labels ers may discover they’re struggling? Have you considered
Clothing Sales ......................................................................... 623-856-6310 like these can act as a barrier to help-seeking for many the many pressures one endures daily to present as if noth-
Club Five Six ........................................................................... 623-856-6446 who face challenges in their lives. A further hindrance to ing is “wrong” or that they are “ t”? What about yourself?
Command Post ........................................................................ 623-856-5600 those with mental health problems is their suffering can
Commissary ............................................................................ 623-935-3821 go unrecognized or unacknowledged, even by those closest The reality is that people are fearful of being called one
Community Center ................................................................. 623-856-7152 to them. of those labels mentioned earlier in this article. A mental
Computer IT service desk .................................................... DSN 945-2900 illness is not a sign of weakness — they are disorders that
Crime Stop ............................................................................... 623-856-6666 The fact is most people do not recognize mental illness affect your mood, thinking and your behavior and usually
Dental Clinic ............................................................................ 623-856-2273 when they see it. People can readily see and empathize with have more than one cause such as your family history, your
Dermatology ............................................................................ 623-856-2273 a physical injury or illness but not everyone can relate to current environment and lifestyle choices. Let’s look past
Dining hall ............................................................................... 623-856-6396 an injury of the brain or emotional dif culties. the labels and help those who are struggling.
Dorm management ................................................................. 623-856-7841
Education Center .................................................................... 623-856-7722 Mental health professionals work hard to bring aware- May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. This
EMERGENCY ONLY ............................................................................ 911 ness to psychiatric problems and available treatments, but year’s focus is “Life with a Mental Illness.” According to the
Equal Opportunity .................................................................. 623-856-7711 we need your help. I invite you, the reader, to join in the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in ve Americans
Eye Clinic ................................................................................ 623-856-7965 efforts to shed more light on this important issue. will be affected by a mental health condition in their life-
Falcon Dunes Golf Course .................................................... 623-535-9334 time and every American is affected or impacted through
Family Health Clinic .............................................................. 623-856-2273 So, what are the signs, symptoms and indicators to look their friends and family. As for the Air Force, one in 10
Family Housing ...................................................................... 623-388-3515 for? Maybe there is someone you know that has not been active-duty members reported untreated mental health
Firestone Car Care .................................................................. 623-271-8104 himself lately or “something” is different. Perhaps he is problems.
Fitness Center .......................................................................... 623-856-6241 more withdrawn, overwhelmed and irritable or seems
Fire Station .............................................................................. 623-856-6641 keyed up or on edge. These are some of the more common If this article resonates with you in any way, please act
Flight Medicine ....................................................................... 623-856-2273 indicators that seeking help could be a good option. Some- on it — whether it’s checking in with a fellow Airman,
Food Court ............................................................................... 623-935-2671 times, there are more subtle signs that someone may be looking out for a family member, or seeking guidance for
Fort Tuthill ............................................................................... 623-856-3401 experiencing some challenges. For example, loss of inter- yourself. Seek help early. Don’t wait. Please consider the
Fraud, waste and abuse hotline ............................................. 623-856-6149 est in things once enjoyed, a desire to be alone more often, impact of not taking that rst step for yourself, your family
Housing Assistance Sec ......................................................... 623-856-7643 loss of appetite, increased alcohol use, and having a more and your career.
Housing Facilities Sec ............................................................ 623-856-3007 “gloomy outlook” on life.
Housing Maintenance ............................................................ 623-935-2676
ID Cards ................................................................................... 623-856-7832 Some people may think they do not need help or may not
ITT ............................................................................................ 623-856-6000
Hobby shop ............................................................................. 623-856-6722 Balancing work, life strengthens identity
Housing office ......................................................................... 623-856-7643
Law enforcement desk ........................................................... 623-856-5970 by Maj. sions, daily life in a common uniform must nd a balance in how we pursue
Legal assistance ....................................................................... 623-856-6901 NAOMI HENIGIN and speaking a common language. professional excellence, while remain-
Library ...................................................................................... 623-856-7191 ing true to our other identities.
Lightning Gate VRC .............................................................. 623-856-4880 60th Force Support Squadron For those who serve, our work iden-
Lodging office/switchboard ................................................... 623-856-3941 tity is so closely tied to our true self that For many of us, that balance is in
Maintenance Control Center ................................................. 623-856-5469 TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, the lines between work and everything being a parent. For others, it’s being
Marine Corps ........................................................................... 623-856-2417 Calif. — As the Air Force focuses on else become blurred. Our friends and a friend, sibling or a child. It might
Marine Corps 24-hr Duty Desk ............................................ 602-421-5806 resiliency for our Airmen and their our colleagues are one in the same; we be connected to a hobby. For some, it’s
Marketing ................................................................................ 623-856-3245 families, concepts like work-life balance live mere steps from the of ce and we all of those things — and in the end it
Medical appointments ............................................................ 623-856-2273 have received renewed consideration. devote so much of ourselves to the mis- doesn’t matter. The “life” in work-life
Military Equal Opportunity ................................................... 623-856-7711 sion that its success becomes a singular balance is whatever you do outside of
Military pay ............................................................................. 623-856-7028 The health bene ts of maintaining driving force in our lives. work, and it’s important.
Navy Operations Support Center .......................................... 602-353-3008 a balance between our career identity
Office of Special Investigation .............................................. 623-856-6821 and our “true self,” the one typi ed by In addition,we like it that way.We love If there is any question as to the
Outdoor Recreation ................................................................ 623-856-6267 the activities we engage in outside of our profession, and we are what make us weight the Air Force places on work-
OB/GYN Clinic ...................................................................... 623-856-2273 work, has led to special attention on the world’s premier ghting force. life balance, consider the diversity
Optometrist .............................................................................. 623-856-2273 and inclusion and force of the future
Orthopedic Clinic .................................................................... 623-856-2273 nding the happy medium. That love and drive for the Air Force, policy initiatives our Air Force leaders
Pass and registration ............................................................... 623-856-4880 Members of the military have one however, can overtake our true self. have implemented in the last year.
Patient advocate ...................................................................... 623-856-8968 of the strongest work identities forged When we lose what makes each of us Programs targeted at recruiting and
Pediatric Clinic ........................................................................ 623-856-2273 through shared experiences starting in unique and strong individually in the retaining America’s best and brightest
Pharmacy refill call-in ............................................................ 623-856-3969 basic military training and continuing pursuit of our common mission, the
Photo services .......................................................................... 623-856-6168 through deployments, routine mis- entire organization suffers. We all See BALANCING, Page 17
Post Office ............................................................................... 623-935-1343
Public affairs ............................................................................ 623-856-6011 Thunderbolt editorial sta Luke Air Force Base website and social media and is the source for articles and
Recycling information ............................................................ 623-856-4749 photos published in the Thunderbolt. The Thunderbolt editor is authorized to use
Rodgers Travel ........................................................................ 623-856-6894 Publisher .................................................... Aerotech News and Review photos and articles from other .mil or .gov websites.
Safety ........................................................................................ 623-856-6941 Editor ........................................................................... Deborah Leuthold
Security forces ..........................................................................623-856-5970 Designer .................................................................................Tinna Sellie Submission deadline is at noon the 15th day prior to the month of publication.
Security incidents .................................................................... 623-856-7777 Contributions for the Thunderbolt can be made via email to 56FWPAThunderbolt@
Service calls CE Maint ........................................................... 623-856-7232 Luke Air Force Base us.af.mil. The editor can be reached at 623-856-5998 or deborah.leuthold@us.af.mil.
Sexual Assault Prevention/Response ................................... 623-856-4878
Shoppette ................................................................................. 623-266-0040 Commander.......................................................... Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus The Thunderbolt uses material from the Armed Forces Information Service, Air
Sick Call ................................................................................... 623-856-2273 Public Affairs chief ................................................ Lt. Col. Matt Hasson Force News Service, AETC News Service and other sources. All advertising is han-
South Gate VRC ..................................................................... 623-856-4768 Public Affairs deputy chief .......................................... Kiley Dougherty dled by Aerotech News and Review. They can be reached by calling 480-307-1772.
Straight-Talk Line ................................................................... 623-856-7064 Internal information.............................................. Staff Sgt. Staci Miller
Telephone repair (Base) ......................................................... 623-856-4400 Contents of the Thunderbolt are not necessarily the official views of, or en-
Thrift store ............................................................................... 623-935-5782 Editorial Information dorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense or the Department
Ticket/tour office ..................................................................... 623-856-6000 of the Air Force.
(TMO) Household goods ...................................................... 623-856-6425 For past issues of the Thunderbolt, go to
(TMO) Passenger travel ......................................................... 623-856-7035 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb/ and click on PDF edition The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supple-
Transient alert .......................................................................... 623-856-6204 The Thunderbolt is published by Aerotech News and Review, a private firm in no ments, does not constitute endorsement of the products or services advertised by
Travel pay ................................................................................ 623-856-7028 way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with the 56th the DOD, the DAF or Aerotech News and Review. Everything advertised in this
Vehicle maintenance ............................................................... 623-935-6576 Fighter Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. This civilian enterprise Air Force news- publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard
Veterinary services .................................................................. 623-856-6354 paper is an authorized monthly publication for members of the U.S. military services. to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap,
Weather .................................................................................... 623-856-6805 The 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office prepares all editorial content for the political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. All
Wellness Center ...................................................................... 623-856-2273 photographs are Air Force photographs unless otherwise indicated.
Youth Center ............................................................................ 623-856-7470