Services For Military Service Members (NAPSA)—Manyservice members returning from armed conflicts are affected by mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries, insomnia, anxiety, flashbacks and depression. To increase mental health services available to returning war fighters, their fam- ily members and to military retirees, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) established a partnership between the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps and the Department of Defense (DoD). Commissioned Corps officers will be detailed to military medical facilities across the country to provide psychiatric services, counseling and family and group therapy. “HHSis teaming up with DoD to increase the federal government’s capacity to treat the mental health needs of our nation’s heroes,” said Admiral Joxel Garcia, HHS assistant secretary of health and head of PHS. “The healing of our injured soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marinesis of top priority and the U.S. Public Health Service is honored to be a part of this program.” The Commissioned Corps is recruiting more mental health service providers, including psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers and psychiatric nurse practitioners. “We are seeking the best and brightest to serve on the front lines of public health—individuals committed to the health and wellbeing of others and who understand today’s global challenges of health promotion and disease prevention,” said PHS Rear Admiral Steven Galson, acting surgeon general. The Commissioned Corps is a uniformed service of 6,000 public The Commissioned Corpsis recruiting more mental health service providers, including psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers and psychiatric nurse practitioners. health professionals. Among the Corps’ primary duties is to protect, promote and advance the nation’s health and safety by providing health care to people most in need and responding to public health emergencies. The Commissioned Corpsoffers a career path for mental health professionals who want to improve the quality of people’s lives and make a difference in public health. This initiative provides an opportunity for these professionals to join the Corps and apply their knowledge and skills on the cutting edge of holistic health care for returning troops and their families. Corps officers receive competitive compensation, including health and dental care at no cost, tax-free housing, 30 days of paid vacation a year and a host of other benefits. To learn more about these opportunities, visit www.usphs. gov or contact Capt. O’Neal Walker at (240) 453-6058 or oneal.walker@hhs.gov or Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Dunbar at (240) 453- 6045 or christopher.dunbar@ hhs.gov. This article was produced by the U.S. Department of Health and HumanServices.
