56 OCTOBER 2023 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION AFSA Hosts MED Town Halls on Mental Health Care CALENDAR Please check www.afsa.org for the most up-to-date information. October 5 3-5 p.m. AFSA Awards Ceremony October 9 Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day AFSA offices closed October 11 11 a.m. AFSA Meets with Job Search/Transition Program Class October 18 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting October 26 1 p.m. View from Washington: Virtual Event November 10 Veterans Day AFSA offices closed November 13-December 11 Federal Health Benefits Open Season November 15 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting November 16 Time TBD Webinar: 2024 FEHB Insurance & Benefits November 23-24 Thanksgiving Holiday AFSA offices closed On July 12, AFSA hosted two virtual town halls with Dr. Thomas Kerrihard, deputy chief medical officer for mental health programs in the State Department’s Bureau of Medical Services (MED), to discuss mental health services in the Foreign Service. In opening remarks, Tom Yazdgerdi, then AFSA’s State vice president, noted that awareness of mental health issues has increased in the last decade. “We’ve come a long way in making our medical programs responsive and supportive,” he said. “We want to thank the MED team for those efforts.” To unearth members’ principal concerns regarding mental health services in the Foreign Service, AFSA conducted a survey in January 2023 in collaboration with MED. The responses showed that Foreign Service employees were most concerned about access to overseas mental health providers, the effect of seeking care on security clearances and privacy, MED staffing overseas, and mental health support for family members. MED did a more detailed survey in May, which revealed that many FS members knew little about MED’s services. To promote and safeguard the health and well-being of the American diplomatic community, Dr. Kerrihard said, MED has about 63 physicians, known as regional medical officers, in health units around the world who conduct general medical work. MED also employs 23 psychiatrists and more than 100 physician assistants, nurses, and nurse practitioners who staff the department’s health units overseas. There are more than 200 such units, serving about 270 posts, worldwide. Dr. Kerrihard pointed to a growing need in the Foreign Service for mental health care, citing regular transitioning to new positions and places, as well as frequent exposure to war, terrorism, and conflict. “[Many] embassies are understaffed, so people are overworking while adjustANNOUNCING THE 2023 AFSA AWARD RECIPIENTS Continued on page 66 ing to new supervisors,” he added. “Our children may have a hard time at new schools, finding new friends, LIFETIME CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN DIPLOMACY Ambassador John F. Tefft FOREIGN SERVICE CHAMPIONS U.S. Global Leadership Coalition CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT Christophe Triplett W. Averell Harriman Award for an Entry-Level Officer Mark Evans Christian A. Herter Award for a Senior Foreign Service Officer Alexander Douglas William R. Rivkin Award for a Mid-Level Officer EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE Erin Cederlind M. Juanita Guess Award for a Community Liaison Officer Katie Leis Nelson B. Delavan Award for an Office Management Specialist David Burnstein Mark Palmer Award for Advancement of Democracy Marina Grayson Mark Palmer Award for Advancement of Democracy Honorable Mention: David Baugh Avis Bohlen Award for an Eligible Family Member Felix Peng and Paige Puntso Post Representative of the Year Award Ken Kero-Mentz AFSA Achievement and Contributions to the Association Award Look for profiles of all the recipients, and an interview with the Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy awardee in the December edition of The Foreign Service Journal.
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