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Stress - A manageable foe

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton
  • 5th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  In times of war, stress is inevitable. With the high operations tempo around the Air Force, added stress is a mainstay. However, the integrated delivery system provides Minot Airmen unique ways of dealing with stress according to their own situations.
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"IDS is a compilation of all the base's helping agencies," said Lt. Col. London Richard, 5th Medical Operations Squadron mental health flight commander. "We work together to identify the needs of what the Airman may need to better their situation."

These base helping agencies include (but aren't limited to): the youth center, chapel, Health and Wellness Center, Airman and Family Readiness Center, mental health and family advocacy, as well as many others.

"When you think about your daily life - a lot of stress develops from lack of skills, home life and self-esteem issues," said Nancy Bowers, 5th Force Support Squadron AFRC community readiness technician. "But if you work on these things both at home and at work, then your overall stress levels should come down."

"But you're not alone," added Colonel Richard. "We have individual therapy, briefings at the units, educational talks at commanders calls and outreach programs to name a few."

Colonel Richard said he and his mental health team work hand-in-hand with other base agencies to determine what an individual needs and what programs would best work for their unique needs.

"We all work together," he said. "All the agencies in IDS know where to direct the individuals seeking help, which in turn helps serve the needs of the community."

The members of IDS have worked together to bring the Year of the Air Force Family to Minot's Airmen.

"We hope to improve morale and resiliency," said Tiffany Jensen, 5th FSS AFRC community readiness consultant. "A major focus of this program is to increase base awareness of available resources. These available resources would normally cost a lot downtown, but are free on base."

With programs like these so readily available, what leads to continued stress?

"Operational stressors," Colonel Richard said. "We are stationed at a fairly remote base with a high operations tempo - the key to combating stress here is utilizing the seemingly endless resources available."

"We need to be looking out for each other," the colonel added. "This is really what being a good wingman is all about."