Team McConnell recognizes Mental Health Awareness Month

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Trevor Rhynes
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  May is Mental Health Awareness Month and McConnell's Mental Health Airmen have spent the month spreading the word about the benefits of maintaining good mental health.

Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in May for more than 65 years and its purpose is to spread awareness about ways to maintain and improve one's mental health.

"The primary purpose is to spread awareness about the various disorders associated with one's mental health, while also spreading the word about suicide prevention," said Staff Sgt. Darren Pennington, 22nd Medical Operations Support Squadron alcohol and drug abuse prevention NCO in charge. "We want to take this time to let people know what services are provided for those, on and off base, here in the mental health clinic."

Members of the clinic got involved in base events, like the family festival of fun, throughout the month to increase awareness about what programs are available to them.

"Quite possibly the most important part of our outreach is to try and get out to units and let people know what reasons people can use the mental health clinic for," said Pennington. "People come to us for a variety of reasons, and we want to let people know what tools are available for people who might have an issue they're working through."

Mental health is one of the Air Force's Comprehensive Airman Fitness four pillars of resiliency, which also include physical, spiritual and social. Technicians from the 22nd Medical Group Mental Health Clinic consider maintaining a balance between the pillars to ensure good mental health.

"It's like a four-legged chair," Pennington said. "Weakening one side of the chair brings the other three sides down. Maintaining a good balance is key."

Another purpose of the month is to combat the stigma that seeking assistance will have a negative impact on a career.

"We want troops and their families to know [the Department of Defense] has great emphasis on gaining access to mental health care, reducing barriers, and following where the research goes to provide them the best possible care," said U.S. Navy Capt. (Dr.) Michael J. Colston, psychiatrist and director of mental health policy, health services policy and oversight.

For an appointment or more information, call (316) 759-5095.