Posted on Nov 15, 2015
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.
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Mental Health Services
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Mental Health Services Stigma
Posted 9 y ago
This is a duplicate discussion and the contents have been merged with the original discussion. Click below to see more on this topic...
What do you say to a Vet service member that knows they have issues, but is aware of the stigma, the unwanted consequences of seeking counseling, knows that once that genie is out of the bag, it can not be put back or forgotten and will, not if, but WILL be used against that member at some point in a negative manner.
Issues that are perhaps not catastrophic (suicide ideations) but troubling.. A movie scene that triggers memories and emotional stress and distress. Temporary depression lasting min, hours or days.. not long term hide in the closet. Survivor guilt that festers below the surface for weeks or months then hits hard. Likely they will self medicate to some extent.
You want to tell them, the "right" answer, go get help... but you know they have a point.. it will be used against them later.. For the sake of discussion, don't go down the privacy law, confidentiality clauses, ect.. We know that to be a false security. We know the info is shared among governmental agencies, we know law enforcement can gain access, we know the VA plays fast and loose with the specific info and the data as a whole. . So lets just leave the fantasy of privacy out of the conversation please.
Issues that are perhaps not catastrophic (suicide ideations) but troubling.. A movie scene that triggers memories and emotional stress and distress. Temporary depression lasting min, hours or days.. not long term hide in the closet. Survivor guilt that festers below the surface for weeks or months then hits hard. Likely they will self medicate to some extent.
You want to tell them, the "right" answer, go get help... but you know they have a point.. it will be used against them later.. For the sake of discussion, don't go down the privacy law, confidentiality clauses, ect.. We know that to be a false security. We know the info is shared among governmental agencies, we know law enforcement can gain access, we know the VA plays fast and loose with the specific info and the data as a whole. . So lets just leave the fantasy of privacy out of the conversation please.
Responses: 1
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?
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?
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