Part Three in a Five-Part Series
Soldiers who return home with readjustment problems face another enemy, a devastatingly subtle one: stigma and discrimination against veterans who have a mental illness.
Although we are paying more attention to the impact of trauma—both short-term and long-term—on mental health, the stigma of mental illness in the military and in the larger public has a damaging effect on the health of veterans and their families. The consequences of ignoring the stigma around seeking help for mental illness are dire: The number of suicides among members of the U.S. military in 2012 surpassed the number of soldiers killed in combat. Currently the rate of suicide among service members is greater than the rate of suicide among the civilian population according to the Army Times.
Fortunately, effective treatments are available for even the most serious neurological illnesses and injuries. Many soldiers avoid treatment for fear of being perceived as weak by their colleagues, or because of concerns that a history of mental illness may prevent them from advancing in their military career or in the private sector.
The U.S. Armed Services is beginning to change this perception by encouraging soldiers to get help, but we are still at the early stages of breaking down those barriers. Many soldiers have come forward with their own experiences of battles with mental illness to lead the way to a future of recovery and healing, but much more needs to be done.
Removing the false distinction for mental illness and making these policy changes would play a major role in overcoming stigma and encourage more soldiers to seek help when they need it, which would improve the overall health and well-being of our fighting forces.
AMHCA Says Thank You
Tomorrows Part Four: We Have the Tools