32 JULY AUGUST 2024 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL By educating yourself and your family on mental health, you contribute to breaking down the stigma associated with mental illness. Department of State’s “24/7 comprehensive and confidential resource and referral service for employees and their family members.” WL4Y provides free 24/7 education and referral services that help State employees and family members find the programs, providers, information, and resources they need to manage personal and professional responsibilities. Counselors will help determine what services are needed and available and refer to appropriate providers. Call them for personalized assistance, read articles and educational guides on their website, order topic-related kits, engage in monthly live talks, watch webinars and listen to audio programs, or ask for a free in-person elder care assessment from a qualified professional care manager. Another excellent resource is Employee Consultation Services (ECS) in the Bureau of Medical Services (MED). According to State’s webpage, ECS “offers free, confidential counseling with professional clinicians to eligible Department of State employees and family members. They can assist with job stress, marital and relationship matters, parent and child dynamics, single parent and blended family concerns, school adjustment, elderly parent concerns, separation, loss and grief, acute and chronic medical illness, depression, anxiety, and other emotional or mental health challenges, financial concerns, life transitions, new career/retirement issues, and pre–post departure and reentry concerns.” Additional information is available in this ECS video on suicide prevention. Contact ECS at MEDECS@state.gov or call (202) 634-4874. MED also offers the Child and Family Program. The mission of the office is to work with parents to assure children’s mental health and special education needs are identified and appropriately assessed, and that an effective treatment and educational plan is established in advance of and during overseas assignments. For more information about the Child and Family Program, please reach out to them at MEDCFP@state.gov. For those abroad, a tremendous mental health resource is the regional medical officer psychiatrist (RMOP), who is assigned overseas and responsible to provide coverage in a geographic region adjacent to their home post. According to the RMOP webpage, the program was established at the time of the Tehran hostage crisis (1979-1981) and has now grown to 24 positions, the vast majority of these located at embassy health units. RMOPs are psychiatrists (medical doctors with additional training after medical school) who can provide consultations, medicating support, and some psychotherapy. If your post is fortunate to have an RMOP, one only needs to make an appointment through the mission health unit. However, since RMOPs serve regionally and are not physically present at most posts, those in need of their services can either seek a referral through the local health unit, schedule an appointment when the RMOPs visit individual missions in their portfolio, or reach out to them via the “RMOP by Region Phone Book,” found on the State Department intranet. Practical Steps to Maintain Mental Well-Being Open communication. Create an environment where family members feel safe discussing their feelings without fear of judgment. Routine. Establish a stable routine to provide a sense of normality and security amid the changes. Social connections. Encourage engagement with the local community, and seek out groups or clubs with shared interests to help build a new supportive network. Self-care. Model and stress the importance of regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and sufficient sleep as foundations for good mental health. Professional support. If in doubt, seek assistance from a mental health professional. Many offer telehealth services, which can be an excellent option for FS families posted abroad. There are many causes for adolescent mental health challenges, including moving to a new country, which, while challenging, can also be a momentous occasion filled with opportunities for growth and learning. By prioritizing mental health, destigmatizing and normalizing mental health treatment and seeking mental health services, and becoming equipped to offer support as an MHFAider, Foreign Service families can ensure that this adventure is a positive and enriching experience for everyone. n
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