Free Counseling for Military Families across U.S.

It’s time to change the culture of mental health in America. It’s time to remove barriers so that we can talk openly about our emotional well-being – as well as our emotional pain. By changing our culture, we will change minds, attitudes, and behaviors. By changing our culture, we will increase access to care, decrease suffering, and increase productivity worldwide.

Did you know that one in five active-duty service members experience symptoms of posttraumatic stress, depression, or other mental health challenges?

"Suicide — not combat — is the leading killer of U.S. troops deployed to the Middle East to fight Islamic State militants,” according to newly released Pentagon statistics.

Did you know nearly one in every five people, both civilian and military, 42.5 million adult Americans, has a diagnosable mental health condition?

All of us have mental health - just as we all have physical health. Sometimes we feel well emotionally, but sometimes we struggle, sometimes we suffer. Emotional pain is part of the human condition – sometimes we are able to heal with the love and support of those close to us…sometimes we need more.

Did you know, when it comes to mental illness, adolescents and teens are particularly vulnerable and half of all lifetime cases of mental disorders begin by age 14?

Many students might be reticent to speak up if they are having problems and worry that others might judge them. Many members of our military and veterans are reluctant to speak up because they are worried about the shame associated with asking for help.

According to the CDC, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among adolescents ages 12 - 17 and the 3rd for youth 10 - 24 years old.

“Throughout my struggle with depression, I found my personality changed and I was not being my happy-go-lucky self.  I was no longer able to see the glass half full.  I also felt myself forcing conversations with friends where words once used to flow effortlessly.  Those same friends helped pick me up out of that dark place to get me back to myself.  I continue to seek support from loved ones and now offer up my ears to listen.”

Give an Hour can help – by providing those in need with the help they deserve and by removing barriers to care. 

Give an Hour is a national non-profit organization focused on providing free mental health care to the military, veterans, and their loved ones – and beginning in 2017 we are expanding to other populations in need. In March of 2015, Give an Hour, launched the Campaign to Change Direction to change the culture of mental health in America. 

Give an Hour’s Campaign to Change Direction has created a common language that allows us to recognize the Five Signs of emotional suffering -- change in personality, withdrawal, agitation, poor self-care, and hopelessness --in ourselves and others. The Campaign encourages everyone to care for our mental well-being and the mental well-being of those we love.

In addition to direct counseling, Give an Hour’s network of volunteer professionals are working to reduce the barriers that prevent people from getting proper care  by participating in and leading education, training, and outreach efforts in schools, communities, and military bases.  

Several cities, communities and states are now inspiring citizens through this public health effort, including LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Summit County, Ohio, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Nashville, Tennessee and the entire state of New Hampshire. We are also receiving commitments from  corporate pledge partners: LHI, Aetna, Booz Allen Hamilton, and more.  

Getting help isn’t always easy.

Through the Campaign to Change Direction, Give an Hour is working to encourage everyone to pay attention to their emotional well-being and share what works so that we can all stay emotionally healthy!

Please support us in our effort to #ChangeMentalHealth at: www.changedirection.org.

Links:

• To find a local provider.
• Join our campaign.