Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why is the National Guard offering Psychological Health services?
2. How will the Psychological Health Program support the Guard leadership and members in my state?
3. How will the program help me and is it confidential?
4. I don’t live near a base, VA facility or military treatment facility (MTF). Can I call the Director of Psychological Health on the phone to help me?
5. I have scheduled and appointment with my local DPH, what will I need to take to this appointment?

1. Why is the National Guard offering Psychological Health services?
The Guard is dedicated to its mission to be relevant, ready and accessible. This requires that members function at their highest level physically and emotionally. The Guard wants to

• Help members address full range of personal, emotional and behavioral problems as a result of deployment and any other stressors.
• Support individuals for personal readiness and assist with those who experience TBI and PTSD.
• Ensure confidentiality, privacy compliant with state and federal laws and guidelines.
• Maintain and improve National Guard member productivity
• Ensure the Psychological Health Program is part of the comprehensive overall warrior support, including:
• Wounded Warrior program
• Military OneSource
• Family Support Centers
• And others on the J-1 team

2. How will the Psychological Health Program support the Guard leadership and members in my state?
The Directors of Psychological Health in each state are available to help you with any problem that may be affecting your emotional or behavioral life.

They are also able to respond to training requests, critical incident response, as well as provide unit briefings, training and consultation.

3.How will the program help me and is it confidential?
Guard members and their families can work with your State or Territory Director of Psychological Health who will assist you in the coordination and management of any psychological health need. In most cases, we will assess and refer you to a local, qualified counselor or other mental health resource within a reasonable distance from your home . The goal of the Psychological Health Program is to address your concerns in the quickest, least restrictive, most convenient, and least costly manner while strictly respecting your confidentiality.

4. I don’t live near a base, VA facility or military treatment facility (MTF). Can I call the Director of Psychological Health on the phone to help me?
Program services are easily accessible. Your state/territory Director of Psychological Health is available to provide telephone consultation as well as face to face consultation. If you believe you, or one of your family members, might need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

5. I have scheduled and appointment with my local DPH, what will I need to take to this appointment?
The services of the DPH are confidential and provided free of charge. At your initial appointment, you will be asked to provide basic demographic information, military history, and details regarding the concern for which you are seeking assistance. You may complete the Client Information and Military History forms in advance and provide the completed forms at your appointment. These forms are accessible on the Resource Page. Once your DPH has completed your interview, a referral may be made to your local provider and your DPH will be available to guide you through the whole process. We will do our best to help you with whatever challenges you’re experiencing. If you’re concerned at any point with the service, please let us know.