What do you do if you have mental health issues? Are you seeking professional care? Do you know that it takes bravery to seek help.

SPC Margaret Higgins — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 17:51:13 -0500

Response by MAJ Alvin B. made Nov 15 at 2015 9:17 PM

MAJ Alvin B. — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 21:17:55 -0500

It does take courage to seek help. It also helps if the system will actually support you. From the news reports regarding some military installations there is still a tremendous stigma attached to seeking help. Once help,is sought, it seems there is a lac k of (loss of) trust and confidence within the unit.

I have no simple solution, it is a something of a no-win scenario, seek,help,and be outed, do not seek help and continue to suffer. I suspect part of the stigma is our projection of emotions, fear, etc... on the service member who is suffering, -- mental illness of any type frightens us, so we seem to instinctively want to shun (or worse) the individual.

In my experience it is better for you to recommend help, it is also best for the individual to seek help. If you are in a leadership role you may find yourself compelled to address the issue. If not, compassion and understanding may go a long way to help. Perhaps the first place to start is with a Chaplain (or dare I say it off base support),-- yes, in some duty positions you may be at risk exercising any option.

[It is also imperative for the leadership structure to learn to deal with the issue honestly. When that happens soldiers are properly cared for, healed and live to fight, serve and excel. I have seen it work.]

I have lost friends and comrades because they could not bring themselves to seek assistance. In my current environment I would encourage the individual to talk with a professional, you do not have to start with mental health.

At the end of the day, you must ask, what is most important, the stigma, or the pain, potential loss of life, and lingering anguish of those left behind?