Posted on Jan 19, 2023
The Hardest Thing I Did in the Army Wasn't Getting Shot At. It Was Asking for Help.
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The Army has gone to great lengths to erase the stigma of mental health with countless programs, PowerPoint presentations, and trainings. The Department of Veterans Affairs has spent billions on mental health treatment. But when I needed help, I was just another "b----" who couldn't handle it, a "p---y" who didn't have what it takes.
The Hardest Thing I Did in the Army Wasn't Getting Shot At. It Was Asking for Help.
Posted from military.com
Mental Health
Counseling
Help
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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When we had a Soldier ask for help, he was placed in the psych ward of the hospital for eight days. Do you think any of the rest of us thought about asking for help? Granted this was the 1990 Army but it felt like nothing changed between then and when I retired in 2021.
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Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth
Good thing for me on ly last deployment when I returned home I was struggling. A good friend of mine told me to go see the head doc. I reluctanlty did and it was the best thing I could have ever done. There was no stigma since I went on my own and wasn't command directed but I needed the help and got it and was still working. Best thing I ever did medically...hard choice but it was the right choice.
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LTC Trent Klug
Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth The Soldier went to Sick Call and the PA was the one who sent him there.
After that happened, yeah thank you no. No one else sought help.
It may have gotten better, but all I saw was pills were given out. Again thank you no.
I can't say I suffered in silence. I was very vocal but wasn't going to be 'thorazined' to quell the issues in my head.
After that happened, yeah thank you no. No one else sought help.
It may have gotten better, but all I saw was pills were given out. Again thank you no.
I can't say I suffered in silence. I was very vocal but wasn't going to be 'thorazined' to quell the issues in my head.
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Sgt John Wilkinson
Keep in mind that today's military is filled with gays and transgenders now. Being put in the psych ward is the least that these groomers deserve. I hope they all get stranded in Afghanistan and raped by the fucking hajis.
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SFC Casey O'Mally
Sgt John Wilkinson Holy toxic avenger, Batman. That unwarranted and tangential screed was full of unnecessarily abusive language.
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In 2015 I was fired from a position - complete with the only negative NCOER of my career (and subsequent QMP) - because the 1.5 hours a week I had to spend at Behavioral health (including travel time) meant that I was a "weak little bitch" who "didn't give a damn about the unit or the mission." (And yes, those are actual quotes from the SGM who fired me.)
I never dropped the ball, completed all assigned tasks (to a high standard, too), and routinely helped others with theirs. Didn't matter. There was an hour and a half every week I did not immediately answer his phone calls or e-mails, so I was useless.
It seems to me that those "leaders" (and I use the term loosely) most likely to drive Soldiers to the point of NEEDING help are also the most likely to ridicule/ punish Soldiers for GETTING help. And they instill that mindset in their subordonates,as well.
I never dropped the ball, completed all assigned tasks (to a high standard, too), and routinely helped others with theirs. Didn't matter. There was an hour and a half every week I did not immediately answer his phone calls or e-mails, so I was useless.
It seems to me that those "leaders" (and I use the term loosely) most likely to drive Soldiers to the point of NEEDING help are also the most likely to ridicule/ punish Soldiers for GETTING help. And they instill that mindset in their subordonates,as well.
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