Life skills changing name to create awareness

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Across the Air Force the Life Skills Support Centers have reclaimed the name Mental Health Clinic in an effort to improve communication and access to treatment by eliminating the confusion the former name may have caused.

The decision in the renaming came from the Air Force Community Action Information Board, and became effective May 30.

Another reason for the name change was to bring awareness to receiving the needed treatment for mental health issues and breaking the misunderstanding that Airmen had with the name life skills.

"To most people, particularly professionals, life skills refer to youth programs and services for the developmentally disabled" said Lt. Col. Steven Pflanz, senior psychiatry policy analyst for the surgeon general. "Traditionally, life skills refers to teaching people how to get dressed, prepare meals or balance check books; not psychotherapy."

The 374th Medical Operations Squadron mental health flight is getting the word out and helping Airmen by providing knowledge on where to go for concerns regarding mental health.

"Our staff is communicating the name change through our ongoing community educational outreach efforts," said Master Sgt. Eric Brown, 374 MDOS Mental Health Flight noncommissioned officer in charge. "This will include various briefings and seminars which will create mental health awareness to our Airmen and their families."

Airmen sometimes opt not to seek treatment for behavioral and emotional problems because of fear it will affect their duty records, however this is not always the case.

According to a memorandum from Maj. Gen. Charles Green, United States Air Force Deputy Surgeon General, some of the most common concerns Airmen have about seeking treatment for mental health issues is privacy, said General Green in the memorandum regarding the name change. Privacy is upheld as long as the issues do not represent a danger to themselves, the mission, or others.

For Airmen who self-refer themselves to mental health care, in only 10 percent of cases the unit is rarely contacted. Adverse career outcomes are extremely infrequent and happen in only three percent of cases, as stated in the memorandum.

Airmen in the mental health treatment profession believe the name change will have a positive outcome.

"I feel the change will provide customers a greater understanding of our available services, improve communications and eliminate confusion," said Sergeant Brown. 

"This change will also fall in line with our efforts at mitigating the stigma associated seeking treatment." 

"The most important thing to remember is that although the name has changed, our mission remains the same," said Sergeant Brown. "We are here to help anyone who needs our services."