Mental health integrates holistically with multiple aspects of health to support preparedness | Article

Nicole Mayo, PhD, and Genevieve Smith, PhD, DHA-Public Health

What comes to mind when considering mission readiness requirements?

Perhaps it is the ability to pass required physical fitness and body composition tests, weapons proficiency tests, or pre-deployment medical and dental examinations. Whatever the requirements, physical and physical fitness are important factors in mission readiness.

Military personnel experience a variety of operational stressors, both physical and mental, that contribute to allostatic load, a term meaning “wear and tear” on the body. As these repeated stressors increase allostatic load, service members may face an increased risk of emotional distress, burnout, or illness.

Research points to certain features such as mental toughness And sustainabilityand positive behaviors such as seeking advice from a trusted source and enlisting emotional support can help service members deal with and process these stressors and experiences. Mental fitness is also linked to almost every aspect of health, sometimes in unexpected ways. Ensuring that service members are not only physically but also psychologically fit can help optimize a medically capable force.

Military mental or psychological health can be described as the ability to effectively cope with the unique mental stressors and challenges necessary to ensure readiness and mission success. In support of these efforts, here are several ways that different aspects of health can impact the mental health and readiness of military personnel.

Exposure to extreme conditions

Military training and operations may take place in extreme conditions, including at high altitudes or in areas with exceptional high or short temperature. This environment can negatively affect mood and lead to increased anxiety or depressive symptoms.

Financial problems

Financial stress can bring up a mixture of emotions such as anxiety, anger and frustration. These emotions can affect a person’s daily functioning. Together, these stressors can contribute to the development of health problems or unhealthy behaviors, such as sleep problems, depression or intimate partner violence.

Medical or dental conditions

Living with illness, injury or other health conditions can have a profound impact on mental health, increasing stress and creating anxiety and depression. It can also affect both the quality and quantity of sleep, an important aspect of mental health. Additionally, hearing problems and tinnitus, which is a constant ringing in the ears, are common among military personnel and veterans and can worsen mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression. The impact of medical and dental conditions can impact military personnel’s mental health by increasing stress and leading to unhealthy behaviors such as substance abuse, tobacco use, or hazardous alcohol use. These behaviors, in turn, negatively impact mental health, often worsening the symptoms that service members are trying to calm. For resources on how to quit smoking or using other forms of tobacco, visit TRICARE Smoking Cessation Services webpage.

Nutrition and eating behavior

A nutritious diet can positively impact many aspects of military personnel’s health and well-being, including mental health. A high-quality diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains can have a positive impact on resilience. Eating a quality diet may even reduce some symptoms of anxiety and depressive disorders, especially when combined with regular physical activity.

Exercise and physical training

You’re probably familiar with the term “runner’s high,” which refers to the positive effect physical activity has on your mood. For this reason, it is not surprising that military personnel who meet or exceed current physical activity recommendations tend to be less likely to report symptoms of anxiety disorder, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Exercise or exercise can also serve as a healthy coping mechanism for stress and feelings of anxiety or depression.

Social networks and unit cohesion

Social networks, such as close friends and loved ones, can provide a favorable environment for military personnel coping with the stresses of everyday life. Often one of the most influential and important sources of social support for military personnel is their unit. unit cohesion may have a positive impact on mental health by providing a source of support and acting as a protective factor against symptoms of depression. However, when behavior such as bullying, favoritism, or hazing exists within a unit, a service member’s mental health can deteriorate significantly.

Religion or spirituality

Research shows that spirituality can positively impact mental health and potentially reduce the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorders. Research suggests that the beneficial effects of spirituality and religion on mental health may be due to the greater sense of meaning or purpose in life that spiritual people may feel. An increased sense of purpose in life may also protect against symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal thoughts. Spirituality and religion can also be a source of social support and a sense of community, both of which are beneficial for mental health and well-being. Unfortunately, difficult experiences or circumstances can cause people who are religious or spiritual to question their belief systems, further demonstrating the importance of the sense of community that can be found through spirituality and the social support it can provide in times of uncertainty.

Conclusions

Taken together, these relationships among multiple aspects of physical, social, and mental health highlight the importance of addressing military health using a holistic approach to maximize health and readiness. It is important to strive to practice a variety of healthy behaviors, including following physical activity guidelines, getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and managing finances responsibly—whether or not the impact of these behaviors on mental health is clear. It is important to note that while practicing positive health behaviors may alleviate some of the stressors of military life, as well as symptoms of anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder, such behaviors are unlikely to completely prevent the occurrence of these disorders. especially in response to traumatic experiences. Therefore, it is also important to remove any stigma around service members reporting feelings of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal ideation so they can get the help they need. However, committing to practicing multiple healthy lifestyle behaviors is likely to have a positive impact on both your overall physical and mental health.

For more resources on how to optimize your health, visit CHAMP’s Human Performance Resources page at: https://www.hprc-online.org/mental-fitness/mental-health.

If you or someone you know is concerned about alcohol, substance use, or prescription drug use, please refer to Master Your Limits (https://ownyourlimits.org) and Too Much to Lose (https://toomuchtolose.org) websites are filled with useful information and other resources.

The Defense Health Agency supports our nation by improving health and readiness, making extraordinary experiences common and extraordinary results commonplace.

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