Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point (NHCCP) and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point (MCAS) leaders cut the ribbon opening a new behavioral health Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) facility Jan. 23, on Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.

The IOP will enable NHCCP behavioral health staff to provide Marines and Sailors an intensive outpatient behavioral health treatment option while engaging the patient’s command, resulting in more efficient treatments and readiness for Warfighters.

Active duty service members will receive group and individual therapy during a three day, four week program. Service members remain with their unit the other two days of the week to maintain operational readiness.

NHCCP Commanding Officer Capt. Doug Stephens said, “The U.S. military finished 2018 with a troubling, sad statistic: We experienced the highest number of suicides among active duty personnel in at least six years. A total of 321 active duty members took their lives during the year, including 57 Marines, 68 Sailors, 58 Airmen and 138 Soldiers. There is no shame in seeking help, especially when the treatment for mental health conditions is so effective. The issue is that the stigma surrounding mental illness and mental health conditions often is the biggest barrier to someone seeking help. The need for these types of programs is urgent and growing. This program will bridge that gap and complete the continuity of medical and behavioral health care services at the highest level possible for a Naval Health Clinic."

Lt. Cmdr. Lindsay Gleason, NHCCP Behavioral Health department head said, “The design of the program will prevent long periods of time and work lost from a patient’s military unit. The IOP will improve patient access to care, enhance command communication, improve readiness, and expedite decisions for return to duty and final dispositions. Additionally, it will enhance treatment for the service members by keeping them local and with their family or units, with command resources readily available, providing an intensive treatment option with command awareness and tracking, in addition to maintained unit support within the gates of MCAS.

“Additionally, operational research has consistently supported the importance of the active duty service member remaining within their unit structure for support, but also continuing to accomplish the mission within their MOS.”

The curriculum offers Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, and other evidenced-based therapies, along with a holistic approach including both art and recreational therapy. Interventions will focus on: emotion & stress regulation, communication styles and skills, attachment styles and managing relationships, grief & loss, self-esteem and acknowledgment, values and goal setting, anger management, biological health, sleep hygiene, crisis prevention and planning and adjustment to military life. 

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Named after Medal of Honor recipient, Pharmacist Mate Second Class William D. Halyburton, the Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point provides high-quality patient care to more than 18,000 active-duty members and DOD beneficiaries. In addition to out-patient surgical services, NHCCP offers Medical Home Port (including family care and pediatrics), Orthopedics, Physical Therapy, Behavioral Health, Pharmacy services, Preventive Medicine, Aviation Medicine and Radiology to include MRIs.

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