Press Release
☷ASC promotes a happy healthy workforce
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
Jan 13,2024
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Stephanie Allers , a specialist in suicide and substance use prevention programs for the U . S . Army Sustainment Command , is planning to teach her first class on mental health first aid on January 16 , 2024 , at ASC headquarters . In a world where we often prioritize physical well - being , mental health is finally starting to get the recognition it deserves . Imagine these scenarios: a friend who is always on edge , a spouse who used to take great care of their appearance but now looks disheveled . Or maybe your supervisor seems distant and uninterested when you try to talk about an important project . Something seems off , but how can you help? That ' s where "mental health first aid" comes in . Don ' t worry if you ' re not sure how to do it – the U . S . Army Sustainment Command has a solution . Mental health first aid is the help you give to someone who is developing or experiencing a worsening mental health problem , or going through a mental health crisis . The goal is to intervene early until the person can receive professional treatment . Starting on January 16 , Stephanie Allers will be teaching classes on how to administer mental health first aid . Initially , these classes will only be offered at ASC headquarters , but they will later be available at the command ' s brigades and battalions . Allers said her classes will teach people the skills they need to follow the MHFA action plan , known as ALGEE . Once you learn these skills , you can use them in everyday conversations with coworkers , friends , loved ones , or even strangers . ALGEE stands for: Approach , assess for risk of suicide or harm; Listen nonjudgmentally; Give reassurance and information; Encourage appropriate professional help; Encourage self - help and other support strategies . "I want to help people recognize a mental health crisis as it ' s happening , " said Allers . "Mental health first aid is about preventing and intervening . It ' s about making mental health events normal and removing the stigma , while providing basic , nonjudgmental assistance . " While ASC ' s main mission is to provide logistics capabilities and materiel readiness for combatant commanders worldwide , the leadership understands that mental health is just as important as physical health , and there ' s nothing shameful about seeking help . "An organization ' s greatest asset is not its physical resources , but its people , " said Dan Reilly , ASC deputy to the commanding general . Prioritizing the mental health of our employees is not just a moral imperative; It is a strategic investment in the foundation of our success . A workforce that feels valued , supported and mentally resilient is the foundation for our sustainable success and future innovation . ASC ' s commitment to changing the perception of mental health led Allers to request that she attend the USA Mental Health First Aid course , offered by the Missouri Department of Mental Health and the National Council on Mental Welfare . I graduated from the course in September . Allers requested the course because she realized that while teaching suicide prevention classes , the ASC workforce needed another tool in its tool bag to respond to a mental health crisis at its onset rather than waiting until it reached the point of a suicide attempt . “I wanted [the ASC workforce] to feel comfortable responding to a behavioral/mental health event , ” Allers said . “ ( MHFA ) will enable them to help , rather than feel embarrassed or uncomfortable . ” One of the things Allers hopes to do in the classroom is reduce the stigma of seeking help for both the individual and the person who notices there may be a problem with a battle partner or co - worker . “I have observed , at ASC and in the Army generally , a persistent belief among service members , retired service members and the Army Civilian Division , that seeking help for any mental health issues will negatively impact their careers , ” Allers said . . “This concern is not unreasonable based on historical evidence , but things have changed for the better over the past decade . ” In 2016 , the Department of Defense revised Question 21 on the Standard Form Questionnaire for Homeland Security Jobs , which asks about mental and emotional health , to clarify that mental health treatment will not be a factor in obtaining or obtaining a security clearance . Before the review , answering yes would have been considered a red flag that would often prevent a person from obtaining or maintaining a security clearance . For many military and Department of Defense personnel , the inability to obtain or maintain a security clearance will effectively end their career . “You know the people you work with , you know your family and your friends , ” Allers said . "You know when they act differently they act normal . That ' s when you ask them if they ' re okay . If someone is experiencing a mental health crisis , there are several places at Rock Island Arsenal to turn to for help . Please contact Steph Allers , at ( 571 ) 588 - 2264 during regular business hours , or call Chaplain ( Lt . Col . ) Kevin Daul at ( 636 ) 779 - 9035 , for assistance anytime . The 24 - hour national crisis line is 988 . Rock Island has Arsenal also has the WECARE Rock Island Arsenal app , available on the Apple and Google stores , which serves as an educational and resource tool .
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