Video Counseling Help See “Eye-to-Eye”

New TRICARE Video Counseling Can Help Military Families See “Eye-to-Eye” with Their Problems

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - November is the Month of the Military Family, but military families face stress all year long. It doesn’t hurt to get help.

From deployment worries to strained relationships to dealing with a tragedy, TRICARE is testing a new video counseling service to help military members and families see “eye-to-eye” with their problems. The TRICARE Assistance Program (TRIAP) is just one of several ways to get convenient, confidential help through a licensed behavioral health counselor.

Services are available to any active duty service member (ADSM) in the United States, their spouse, and other eligible family members 18 years of age or older. All that’s needed is a computer, Webcam and the associated software.

TRIAP “visits” are unlimited and include assessments, short-term counseling and, if the TRIAP counselor determines more specialized care is necessary, referral to a more comprehensive level of care. Get details and get linked up to the appropriate TRICARE region at http://www.tricare.mil/TRIAP.

The program is also open to those military members in the Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) or to members of the Selected Reserve who are in the TRICARE Reserve Select plan.

Help is also available to military families through dozens of other options: online, phone and face-to-face. Click to http://www.tricare.mil/mentalhealth for additional TRICARE mental health benefits information, links, programs, assistance phone numbers and downloads, including the comprehensive “A TRICARE Guide: Understanding Behavioral Health Care.”

Assistance with other behavioral health services and appointments is also available by phone. In the South Region, ADSMs and family members should call the Humana Military Behavioral Health Provider Locator and Appointment Assistance Line at 1-877-298-3514. All other South Region beneficiaries can call 1-800-700-8646.

In TRICARE’s North Region, ADSMs and family members can call Health Net’s Behavioral Health Provider Locator and Appointment Assistance Line at 1-877-747-9579 during business hours. All other North Region beneficiaries should call 1-877-TRICARE (1-877-874-2273).

In the West Region, all beneficiaries can call TriWest’s Behavioral Health Contact Center at 1-888-TRIWEST (1-888-874-9378) for appointment assistance 24/7.

Other counseling resources include Military OneSource at 1-800-342-9647, or check http://www.militaryonesource.com for more information, including a listing of phone numbers worldwide. The Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury help-line is available at 1-866-966-1020 or http://www.dcoe.health.mil. Live chat is available at http://www.realwarriors.net/livechat.

About TRICARE Management Activity and the Military Health System
TRICARE Management Activity, the Defense Department activity that administers the health care plan for the uniformed services, retirees and their families, serves more than 9.5 million eligible beneficiaries worldwide in the Military Health System (MHS). The mission of the MHS is to enhance Department of Defense and national security by providing health support for the full range of military operations. The MHS provides quality medical care through a network of providers, military treatment facilities, medical clinics and dental clinics worldwide.