Give Mental Health a Voice By LT Lizzie "Mickey" Jagoe, USN
Seaman Jonathan Krajesky, assigned to the Arleigh Burke Class guided-missile destroyer, USS Porter (DDG 78), jumps off the ship during a swim call, May 31, 2023. During the ship’s Mental Health Awareness Month observation, a day of rest for the crew, Porter Sailors participated in a variety of exercises and discussions about mental health, and had the opportunity to participate in a “Steel Beach Picnic” and swim call on the flight deck. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sawyer Connally, USN.
Beginnings My journey to understand the critical issue of mental health among Sailors began when a fellow Sailor entrusted me with a deeply personal revelation: "That's when I saw my daughter for the last time before my custody battle began." This confession opened the floodgates as I engaged with Sailors individually. Their stories unveiled a tapestry of tragic experiences, becoming evident that beneath the uniform, each individual carried a unique purpose for joining - the pursuit of a better and more meaningful life. A shared refrain emerged: the Navy was exacerbating their mental health issues. The turning point came when leadership realized it was time to make mental health our number one priority. Changing Communication In our quest to boost mental health and productivity, leadership acknowledged the transformative potential for smartphones and integrated digital communication to reach the younger generation. In the midst of the shift, leaders switched from punitive to celebratory measures. Sailors initially hesitant about qualifications advanced above and beyond. By viewing challenges our Sailors faced as solutions, leadership turned obstacles into opportunities. This optimistic approach gave way to a self-sustaining, uplifted community, elevating both the quality and quantity of work.
Rotor Review #163 Winter '24
Managing Workloads In our ongoing commitment to addressing mental health, we scrutinized the demanding workload faced by Sailors. Sea tours find Sailors working months on end away from loved ones for extended periods with an absence of outlets for stress relief, exacerbated by the decline in traditional port calls. Not only do they experience strain away from home, but upon return, they encounter prolonged work hours due to workups, exercises, and other demands. Shore commands, initially intended as periods of respite, transformed into challenging environments marked by inefficiencies influenced by the strain on the supply chain. This means attempting to do more with less. Surprisingly, the work center's predominant source of fatigue did not stem from daily workload pressures but rather from the extensive training required for new Sailors entering the command. Many new recruits join and are placed on limited duty or resign for mental health reasons. The relentless cycle of training newcomers not only exhausted current team members but also diverted crucial time from aircraft maintenance. The impact on Sailors' mental health became evident as these increased workloads and a lack of work-life balance contributed to heightened stress and burnout. Embracing Top-Down Leadership Examining the current evaluation system reveals a tendency among leaders to accentuate the positive aspects of their units, fostering a culture where the emphasis is on projecting an 60
