As Memorial Day approaches and May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, attention turns to the vital support provided to veterans’ mental health.
At Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, mental health services are evolving to better serve active-duty members and veterans alike.
Taylor Zurlinden, the Mental Health Officer In Charge at Mountain Home AFB, emphasizes the team’s mission: “We always want to help our service members get back to where they were. We all wear the same uniform and are part of the same team. Our focus is on helping people get better.”
Mountain Home AFB is unique in serving the entire state of Idaho as the only active-duty base. This allows them to offer comprehensive outpatient care and embedded mental health providers within military units, making access to treatment more immediate and effective.
According to America’s Health Insurance Providers, easier access to care significantly improves outcomes for treatable mental health conditions—a principle the military is increasingly embracing.
Zurlinden highlights the Air Force’s growing investment in personnel wellbeing: “Our jets are impressive, but you need someone healthy to fly them. It’s encouraging to see resources poured into people.”
With Memorial Day often stirring complex emotions, especially for those who have lost loved ones during deployment, Zurlinden offers practical advice: “Research and personal experience show that honoring those we’ve lost helps us cope. It’s important to acknowledge difficult feelings and find meaningful ways to memorialize those legacies.”
Beyond individual care, Mountain Home AFB provides additional programs to support mental health, ensuring veterans and service members have multiple avenues for help.
This Memorial Day, recognizing the mental health needs of veterans is as crucial as honoring their service—support, understanding, and accessible care are key to their healing journey.
Read More:
- Top 10 Psychological Treatments For PTSD
- Diagnosed with PTSD: Now What? Navigating the Path to Healing
- PTSD: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
