TriWest Stands With Partners in Recognizing PTSD Awareness Day

PHOENIX — While today marks Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Day, TriWest Healthcare Alliance remains firm in its commitment to stand alongside its U.S. military and TRICARE partners in the mission to prevent PTSD and the effects it has on America’s military families—not just today, but every day.

“The bottom line is, we will continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our military partners to help address the continuing challenges of military suicides and to get to the heart of the situation: the health and wellness of our military families,” said TriWest President and CEO David J. McIntyre, Jr.

While PTSD can impact anyone, a decade of war has hit America’s military families particularly hard. A recent Associated Press report noted 154 active duty troops committed suicide in the first 155 days of this year—nearly double the amount of U.S. forces killed in action in Afghanistan.

Supporting America’s Military

TriWest has engaged in several programs to aid military personnel and their families. They include:

• Embedded Provider Program: For six years, TriWest has partnered with the California National Guard to bring behavioral health support and services to the Guard—by embedding counselors directly into units. Nearly 19,000 Service members have contacted embedded behavioral health providers, with nearly half self-referring for treatment.
• DSTRESS: A 24/7, anonymous phone and chat counseling service specifically for the U.S. Marine Corps. It is staffed with veteran Marines, former Navy Corpsmen, Marine Corps family members and licensed clinicians with specific training in Marine Corps culture.
• 24/7 Crisis Line: Since 2004, TriWest has been the lone TRICARE contractor to provide a 24/7 behavioral health crisis line. Certified by the American Association of Suicidology, it receives more than 15,000 calls monthly—including more than 1,200 crisis calls.

If you or someone you know is exhibiting symptoms of PTSD, help is available. Military families in the TRICARE West Region can call 1-866-284-3743 or visit TriWest’s Behavioral Health Portal.

Or, contact the Suicide Prevention Life Line at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and press “1” to speak to a counselor.