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May is here and you know what that means...IT'S MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH! YAY! A month to highlight the importance of mental health for everyone, share information and resources, and continue efforts to break down the stigma that still prevents people from seeking out the help they want and need.

NAMI's (The National Alliance on Mental Illness) theme for this year is:

Stigma grows in silence. Healing begins in community.

By sharing your story, you can make connections with others, letting them know that they are not alone and that they have support to start the path towards healing.

Every one of you has the power to encourage and support someone else to get help. If you have your own lived experiences with mental health difficulties, sharing your story with someone who may be hesitant to get help can be the inspiration and motivation they need to take that next step. I've said it before and it remains to be true - the biggest referral source that I have is from all of you. Your encouragement to a fellow Airman to go talk and get help because you did and it was helpful to you. Thank you for sharing your story with others. Thank you for continually working to break down stigma. Thank you for supporting others to get help.

I am here for YOU! Please contact me if you would like to set up a time to talk.

Natalie Pankau, DPH (Dir of Psych Health)

Work cell - 865-201-8129

Email- natalie.pankau@us.af.mil

And dont forget about the 24/7/365 Crisis Lifeline that you can reach by calling or texting 988.

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What makes you priceless?

A few years ago, my family and I had an amazing opportunity come our way, a part of our history was donated to the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute. The donated item was…a skateboard. How the board ended up there is another story, but the “why” is pretty easy to follow. Over 45 years ago I put the board together as a gift to my Dad for Father’s Day, he was about 55 years old, I was around 15 and we rode together quite a bit. Somehow this board stayed in the family, even as many other skateboards came and went over time. The board still rides perfectly and is still in great shape. Fast-forward to present day, my son skateboards and he learned to ride on his grandfather’s board. The board is definitely a cherished part of our history.

If you had seen this board at a yard sale and really weren’t into skating, you would expect this “old relic” to sell for 20 or 30 bucks. On the other hand, if you invested a little time and looked it up on eBay you’d find it is a real collector’s item that sells for around 500 dollars. When I spoke to the curator at the Smithsonian, she said that the history, the story, was what made the board a valuable addition to their collection. She said there are many collectable skateboards out there, but the age of the board, the condition it is in, and the 3-generation family story combined is what makes the board “priceless”.

I spend a great deal of time thinking about Resilience and Mindfulness these days, especially with the emphasis being placed on our getting to know one another so we can be better Wingmen. Driving back from DC, I thought about the different ways that old skateboard is viewed, and how similar it is to the ways in which we see the people around us.

When we move into a new job or sign in with a new unit, or meet any new group of people, we don’t initially see anyone’s unique qualities, or their particular “value”, at this point everyone is a yard-sale skateboard. With time and effort, a few connections will take place, from similarities in backgrounds or interests, or maybe just “getting along” with certain people more than others. Those connections help increase the value of the relationships that are forming. Over time those relationships will lead to trust and bonds that allow you to help with their problems, and allow others to help you. The experiences shared and the stories that go with the experiences lead to those rare friendships that most of us would like to have.

So, as we press on in our military lives and strive to work closer with our wing family, ask yourself what you’re doing now to learn about the true value of those around you. You may just find the beginnings of a real connection with a true friend. And that is priceless.

Bill Conner, Military & Family Readiness

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Happy Spring everyone!  It’s time for our annual review of the DoD guideline on the use of Dietary Supplements.  As mentioned last time, while it is not regulation and does not address supplements comprehensively, it is very informative on the process of choosing Dietary Supplements (referred to as DS for the rest of this article).  I continue to be a proponent of natural medicine as the first line of defense against disease and highly value DS when used appropriately, both as an individual and a medical provider.  Yet, just because something this natural, does not mean it is healthy, or even safe, and this is why choosing your DS wisely is important.

Let’s go back and review the basics.  A DS is a product containing one or more dietary ingredients intended to supplement ones diet, including macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs and “other” dietary substances.  These can be in the form of a capsule, powder, soft-gel, gelcap, tablet, liquid, etc.  Essentially, if it’s not a food and it’s not a drug, it’s a DS and while food and drugs are highly regulated by the government for safety, supplements are not.  Thus, a supplement could be 100% what it claims, 0% what it claims or tainted with dangerous ingredients.  The DoD guidelines advise us to ask the following about a DS we are considering.  What is in this DS?  What does this DS actually contain (not just what does it claim to treat)?  Are there multiple ingredients?  Does it have an ingredient already found in another DS I am taking that may raise the total amount above a safe level?  Does the label conform to FDS rules (state that it is a supplement, name and place of manufacturer/packer/distributor, and complete list of ingredients)?  Does it have a seal from a third party verification program showing it has been evaluated and certified for quality (ie – US Pharmacopeia (USP), NSF International, Informed-Choice, HFL Sport Science, ConsumerLab.com)?  Is it safe?  Have credible professional organizations expressed concerns?  Does it make sense?  Is the claim consistent with current knowledge of exercise physiology and nutrition?  Does it work?  Is there evidence?  What is the recommended dose and is the active ingredient the same quality/quantity of the ones used in studies showing effectiveness?  Does it reach its target?  Is it found naturally in food and does this form reach the target tissues better than the dietary form?  Why take it?  Remember, supplements cannot take the place of exercise, training or overall dietary adequacy, so they need to add something that healthy habits do not already cover.

Very importantly for our military careers is the question “Are we allowed to take it?”  Generally, if a supplement is not banned or recalled by the FDA, FTC or DEA, it is not banned by the DoD at large.  However, DoD, each service and each base/command/unit has the authority to issue guidance on specific supplements and/or categories of supplements so check to see if your base/command/unit has a DS policy in effect.  Check the risk – Keep in mind that certain products tend to be more high risk for dangerous ingredients.  Most commonly, body building, sexual enhancement, weight loss and diabetes products.  If you have a specific product in mind, check it out through the Human Performance Resource Center, Office of Dietary Supplements or FDA websites, as well as the DoD’s resource, linked at the end of this article.

As always, the best way to assure the safety and efficacy of any DS is to discuss it with your PCP, as they can compare it to any meds you are taking or conditions you have to ensure its safety.  A list of questionable ingredients can be found in the DoD guidelines.  The following website classifies DS based on expected risk and potential benefit…

http://hprc-online.org/dietary-supplements/dietary-supplement-classification-system-1#.UDP8no4Qh5g

Lt Col Jennifer King, Physician Assistant, 134th MDG

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OPSS’s mission is to provide the best evidence-based information about dietary supplements to Service Members, their families, healthcare providers, and leaders to achieve human performance optimization. Many Service Members use dietary supplements—for promoting health, improving performance, bodybuilding, losing weight, and more. Unfortunately, some supplements have resulted in adverse events that compromise rather than improve performance, and in some cases supplements result in positive drug tests. Our goal is to provide the tools and resources to help users make informed decisions about dietary supplements to reduce the potential risks to their health and careers. OPSS |OPSS

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A few important notes:

This board will be updated every Thursday before noon.

Any submissions for the UTA will need to be posted PRIOR to Wednesday before UTA. Nothing will be approved if submitted late.

Any submissions for events that take place more than two weeks out will be held until two weeks from the event (with the following exception - if an event is more than two weeks after UTA but will occur before the next UTA, it will be approved for the earlier UTA)

All items will be removed within 30 days, or when their relevance has passed.

Please put your name in the submission somewhere (or create a padlet account if you plan to post regularly!) so we can communicate with you if there's an issue with your submission.

Welcome to the NEW Volunteer!