Aug 31, 2023

International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is a time to remember and honor those who have died of an overdose and those who mourn their loss. Building awareness of the problem of overdose and the accompanying stigma is also a component of IOAD. It's also an opportunity to take action to end overdose. More

May 18, 2023

How many times have you heard that laughter is the best medicine?The National Cancer Institute found that people who laugh regularly boost their immune system by decreasing hormones related to stress inside their body. In addition, laughter ups the number of natural killer cells and activated T cells, which are two things that can help your body stay healthy and strong. If you are feeling lonely or depressed, try watching a comedy and have a good laugh. There is a good chance that it will make y

May 11, 2023

The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in the U.S. since 1949. In the past few years, the Army has looked at its resources and programs available to Soldiers and worked to improve upon them based on the feedback from and needs of Soldiers and leaders.The purpose of this movement is to raise awareness about mental health and to fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for mental health policies.Following the 2020 An

May 4, 2023

Each of us goes through challenging times. Whether it's loss of a loved one, divorce, loss of a job, or some other draining event, we will have to get through it and move on. The ability to do so is called resilience, which is defined as the capacity to recover from difficulties, a toughness. But how do we find and nurture this resilience? One answer is finding peace of mind.Peace of mind is an inner calm; it is acceptance of life's unpredictability. Challenges occur; traumatic experiences

Feb 2, 2023

Resilience is about coping with setbacks. It's about finding the strength to respond to life's challenges. There are many setbacks in life one must meet and overcome. One of those challenges is the loss of a loved one.Three years ago, after I lost my son, I started seeing a grief counselor. Having the opportunity to talk to someone who did not judge and just listened was very helpful and got me through some very tough times.My counselor suggested I keep a journal of my thoughts, and memorie

Jan 12, 2023

Over the past few years, the Army has been updating and developing policies and directives to better prevent harmful behaviors. Since 2020, a few committees and commissions have done a deep dive into harmful behaviors within the DOD and the Army to find more effective methods aimed at tackling these behaviors.The DOD Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military was established to boldly address sexual harassment and sexual assault in the force. The IRC made recommendations rel

Jan 4, 2023

At the start of a new year, people create goals or resolutions of things they'd like to accomplish, as this time represents a new beginning. Sometimes the goals created can cause a bit of stress or anxiety, as it may be a new venture or something that has been put off for a while.The Army has a resource available to assist Soldiers with taking control of their life and accomplishing their goals-the R2 Performance Center. R2PCs offer a variety of training to help Soldiers perform consistent

Jun 1, 2022

Recently, Sec. Def. Lloyd Austin directed the establishment of a Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee to address and prevent suicide in the military. The SPRIRC will conduct a comprehensive review of the Department's efforts to address and prevent suicide. The result of this review will be a report to the SecDef and to Congress detailing actionable improvements to policies, programs, processes, and resources to prevent these tragedies in our military.The review will requi

May 13, 2022

Junior Leaders are in charge of squad size elements and are often new Soldiers' most direct supervisor when new to the Army. The Army categorizes junior leaders as those in the ranks of Corporal, Sergeant, and Staff Sergeant.As a junior leader, most learn how to plan daily tasks and activities, understand organizational constructs, and how to interact with subordinates, peers, and superiors. These leaders have the most first-hand interaction with junior Soldiers, who according to most statisti