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    Fairchild Air Force Base Mental Health department decreased wait time to 24 hours

    Fairchild Air Force Base Mental Health department decreased wait time to 24 hours

    Photo By Airman 1st Class Megan Delaine | Members of the 92nd Operational Medical Readiness Squadron display awards they won at...... read more read more

    FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES

    04.22.2024

    Story by Airman 1st Class Megan Delaine 

    92nd Air Refueling Wing

    FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. – Mental Health professionals assigned to the 92nd Operational Medical Readiness Squadron implemented changes that offer patients group therapy opportunities and walk-in provider assistance.

    The mental health department implemented the changes in 2021 to overcome manning shortfalls, and they ended up decreasing the patient wait times from over one month to 24 hours or less.

    “Our goal is to treat you and get you back to your best life,” said Kaylene Hartt, a mental health provider assigned to the 92nd OMRS.

    “Manning has always been a challenge. Right now, we are 60 percent staffed and [manning remains] one of the biggest challenges [we are facing],” said Staff Sgt. Joseph Chang, a mental health technician assigned to the 92nd OMRS.

    Despite their manning, the team now has a mental health provider available each day for walk-in appointments and offers several options for group therapy.

    The mental health clinic also created six different group therapy options. The six groups are a unified protocol group, a gender affirming care group, an acceptance and commitment therapy group, a sleep group, a written exposure therapy group and a group for regulating emotions.

    Chang added that the mental health clinic has also partnered with other agencies such as the military family life counselor and the chaplain to allow for a faster response time for those who need more one-on-one care.

    “Working with the other agencies allows the mental health clinic to give care to as many people as possible,” explained Chang. “Getting people to where they want to be and helping others is how we get the stigma [around mental health] to end.”

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 04.22.2024
    Date Posted: 04.22.2024 14:56
    Story ID: 469153
    Location: FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, WASHINGTON, US

    Web Views: 201
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN