Psychological Health Update

DoD recently opened a 24-hour outreach center to provide information and referrals to military servicemembers, veterans, their families and others with questions about psychological health and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The new center, operated by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE), can be contacted anytime at (866) 966-1020, and by e-mail at resources@dcoeoutreach.org.

"We're providing 24/7 support to assist callers with questions regarding psychological health and traumatic brain injury," said Brig. Gen. Loree K. Sutton, M.D., the center's director. "Getting the best possible information and tools, hassle-free, will empower and strengthen warriors and their families to successfully manage what can be confusing and disturbing circumstances."

The center can address everything from routine requests for information about psychological health and TBI, to questions about symptoms a caller is having, to helping callers find appropriate health-care resources.

DCoE promotes resilience, recovery and reintegration of servicemembers facing psychological health and TBI issues, and works to advance research, education, diagnosis and treatment of these conditions

"If we need to research a question, we'll do the legwork and quickly reconnect with callers," Sutton said. "We welcome feedback on how we can better meet the needs of those we are so privileged to serve."

The DCoE outreach center is staffed by behavioral health consultants and nurses, most with master's degrees. In addition to answering questions, staffers refer callers to contact centers in other parts of DoD, other federal agencies, and outside organizations when appropriate.

The center serves all uniformed services (including reserve and National Guard), veterans and their families.