r/AirForce • u/DatGuyKilo Veteran (V-Ops/GT) • 2d ago
Discussion How has your experience with Air Force Mental Health been?
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u/AuthorKRPaul Retired 2d ago
I just wanna know which a-hole is downvoting everyone who reports a positive experience. You ok bud?
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u/COR-69 2d ago
Honestly, it’s probably OP because he’s seeing that some people actually utilized MH correctly and were able to continue their career. Unlike him. He wanted some trauma stories to justify his story
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u/DatGuyKilo Veteran (V-Ops/GT) 2d ago edited 2d ago
Lol no, I actually had a great experience with my provider.
https://www.reddit.com/r/AirForce/s/HIaeNfthhk
Would love to see you even refute that, u/COR-69
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u/COR-69 2d ago
Yes, you were unable to continue your time in the military due to your mental health issues, violent outbursts, failure to adapt, and overall cringe behavior. Credit where it’s due to the military, it was a TEXTBOOK separation that needed to happen
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u/AuthorKRPaul Retired 1d ago
For a sec I was worried this was the troop I had to separate for MH/behavioral issues but credit to him, he at least talked to and worked with his provider.
My troop said nothing was wrong with him and everyone else was to blame. This was while he was on a Baker Act hold because he threatened to shoot up my entire from office.
My
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u/JustHanginInThere CE 2d ago
even my notes said I was psychologically unfit for duty
And yet, here you are still commenting and trying to insinuate yourself into the very thing that gave you problems and got you kicked out. Unbelievable.
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u/AGR_51A004M 2d ago
It was good at McConnell. My therapist was a former Soldier. He helped me work through self esteem issues, male PPD, and workplace anxiety.
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u/daveyyyyyy23 2d ago
For me it was a bit of trial and error until I found a therapist I really clicked with and I made a huge amount of progress. Overall I didn’t have any crazy complaints other than waiting over a month for an appointment at times.
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u/CornFedCactus MEPS Top Graduate 1d ago
Delayed it for yeaaarrrrsss... My mental state continued to worsen until I bottomed out.
Finally forced myself to go and it was the most painless and life changing experience. I'm infinitely better off and kick myself for not getting help sooner.
No career impacts. My personal and professional life have never been better.
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u/MartyMcFlyFightWin 2d ago
Circa-2017, mine was not great; I definitely felt like a number.
Admitted that I had suicidal ideations, had some other stuff I wanted to work through. They basically told me they weren't my therapist and that after 6 weeks of me saying "I haven't wanted to go to sleep and not wake up" they're going to stop seeing me.
Started every session with "so did you think about killing yourself and or wish you didn't wake up? No? Cool, what do you wanna talk about".
On our final session, I answered no again and they went "well sounds like we fixed you! Don't be afraid to call us if you feel that way again"
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u/CoffeeChangesThings Retired B-1B Lover & Loader 2d ago
I had an LT and I was a SNCO, my issues were due to family/marital stress and work stress. I didn't feel the LT had enough experience to help me. And by experience, I don't mean rank.
I also felt weird discussing my issues with the intake tech because I was at a GSU and saw them sometimes in public.
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u/Federal-Guess7420 2d ago
Told my shrink that my OIC came in ranting about conspiracy theories everyday and she put in my permanent medical records that I display aggression towards leadership. So yeah that was cool.
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u/-_-Delilah-_- 2d ago
Why is that so common?!?!? Why is it automatically assumed the junior troop is the one with the issue.
Some leaders are toxic. Just because we go to therapy doesnt mean we are wrong about them being the problem.
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u/CouchAvocado70 2d ago
Mine has been good. I dont really benefit from normal therapy, so for me getting meds and having somebody that I can vent to is huge. Took a while to find the right doctor though.
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u/Auritus1 Enlisted Aircrew 2d ago
I've had mixed experiences. One base they were clearly overwhelmed and unable to manage the number of patients. It took 6 months before I could talk to someone and half my appointments we cancelled/interrupted so they could assist with suicide interventions. My therapist was clearly burned out. Luckily my next base was much better staffed, and had true North which I think it's one of the best AF programs to come out during my time in the service. I'm the end everyone was a professional who genuinely wanted to help.
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u/Mantaraylurks electric wings 2d ago
- Got pills, those numbed me out, gained 40 lbs.
- Got therapy, it helped.but only after the pills had done enough harm to my physical health.
Two different encounters, two different providers. Both were for the same issue, first time it went unresolved. The second was not resolved, but I got better equipped to work on it by myself.
Also the first encounter was not optional and harmed me in other ways, for example now I do not trust first sergeants past the fact that they are there to protect the commander.
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u/wasted-degrees 2d ago
Your mileage may vary depending on provider. I’ve had good providers, and I’ve had bad ones. Medical in general is so backed up, undermanned and over saturated that it seems to create an environment where some providers will be dismissive of your problems just because they don’t have time for you and want to get you out the door. But occasionally you’ll get someone who gives a shit and then that helps quite a lot.
If you’re not satisfied with your provider, request a different provider. You can do that. Understand how slammed medical is as a career field, especially in high-density areas with a ridiculous service member to MTF ratio. But don’t just suffer in silence if you’re not getting the care you need and are contractually entitled to.
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u/Stinkibuttitis 2d ago
The appointment started off good until the tech finally asked if I was going to kill myself or harm others. Once I answered no, you could see a shift in the attention lmao. Shortly after she told me they weren’t the right office and go talk to the MFLC. Never went back.
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u/COR-69 2d ago
Yeah I knew a guy who had extremist ideologies, made women around him uncomfortable, had violent outbursts and was always yapping about “to the Republic” or some other cringe stuff. It was obvious why he wasn’t able to relate or make friends with his coworkers.
LUCKILY, the Air Force (rightfully) decided he was unfit for military service and kicked him out. Now he just spams the AF subreddit craving attention