Armed Forces Day is Saturday, May 21st, 2022. Support for our troops is something that has been ingrained in Smoky Mountain Beards since the very beginning. Our founder, Nate, is passionate about the men and women who help to make this country so great. Awareness, outreach, and treatment around the subject of mental health is another matter that is close to his heart. 

Armed Forces Day started in 1950. The original purpose of the holiday was to promote unity among all the armed forces, honor those who are serving and have served, and educate the community about the various branches of the military. 

This year, Smoky Mountain Beards will take a brief break from our usual content to participate in education about mental health and the armed forces. 

Millions of past and present members of the armed forces suffer from PTSD, depression, and a host of other mental health issues. Often viewed as some of the strongest people in our society, men suffer in silence as their mental health needs are overlooked and unaddressed. 

This Armed Forces Day Smoky Mountain Beards would like to take the opportunity to shine a light on resources. 

The Military Crisis Line is a free mental health resource for active-duty military personnel and their closest friends and family. Trained counselors are on the other end of the line. Anything your say to them is completely confidential. You can reach them by a phone call at 800-273-8255. You can also connect with a counselor by texting 838255 or pressing the chat button on veterancrisisline.net

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has special resources specifically for veterans and active duty service members. NAMI representatives also help to staff the Military Crisis Line. NAMI can help you find a doctor, support group, or other local resources.

Mental Health America is a national non-profit that offers mental health treatment based on a sliding scale. Their services are free for many. For those who pay, fees are based on your income. The organization accepts TRICARE insurance, and its website has resources for all members of a military family.  Some of those resources help children cope with missing parents and guide couples through reconnecting after a deployment.

Smoky Mountain Beards would like to wish a happy Armed Forces Day and a sincere thank you to all current and former members of the Armed Forces. We also want to honor their family members who sacrifice so much as well. 

Since beard care is our love language, we’d like to take this opportunity to give a little something back to those who have sacrificed so much. In honor of Armed Forces Day, we are running a sale. When you buy one cologne, you’ll get a free beard oil.