Give Mental Health a Voice

Give Mental Health a Voice

By LT Lizzie "Mickey" Jagoe, 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.

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 idealized image. While this inclination is motivated by a genuine desire to showcase success, it inadvertently steers the focus toward upward impressions. The trend hampers our ability to focus downward and not communicate problems upward or even be tempted to mask them by inaccurate reporting. This hesitancy, driven by the fear of negative evaluations, directly contradicts the principles of the Navy's "Get Real Get Better" initiative. On the flip side, an excessively optimistic "can-do" attitude from superiors can exaggerate a unit's capabilities and may unintentionally foster a culture where they overcommit to maintain a positive appearance. Human beings, inclusive of leaders themselves, can only handle a certain workload before experiencing mental strain. Authorities must refrain from automatically agreeing to every request, address genuine issues, and provide honest assessments of material conditions.

Mental Health Stigma

Among contemporary leaders, the common approach in addressing mental health concerns is to direct them to Navy-approved mental health resources. However, leaders overlook the deeper issue that many Sailors may be hesitant to return to an environment that contributed to their mental health challenges initially. When delving into the experiences of valuable personnel grappling with conditions such as PTSD, many of these individuals seek mental health counseling only to be added to a waitlist for help and potentially deemed unfit for continued service. In the past, mental health was often stigmatized and overlooked, deemed too uncomfortable a topic. Today's generation has evolved its perspective, recognizing mental health as an integral aspect of a healthy and happy lifestyle. The Navy must embrace this cultural shift, acknowledging that mental health requires active management.

Moving Forward

Financial incentives and promises of a better life may draw Sailors to the Navy, but they often prove insufficient to retain them. In today's Navy, Sailors at all levels are experiencing burnout due to the existing culture, creating a chain reaction. Breaking this cycle at HSM-40 required concerted efforts to prioritize mental health and well-being, fostering a culture that supports and cares for its members, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more resilient community. The imperative is evident – prioritizing the mental health and well-being of Sailors is paramount for a thriving U.S. Navy.