What fuels a fear of stigma associated with seeking mental health support? What tools have you seen successfully overcome that fear?

Col Casey "Radio" G. — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 17:19:06 -0500

A warrior in need will often avoid seeking help due to a fear of being stigmatized. The resulting isolation can be as harmful or worse. There is also a mountain of research showing that those who experience social stigma and discrimination see their challenges deepened, making it even more difficult to recover. Why then, when so many warning signs and risk factors are easily detected, have we constructed a culture in which critical needs are often known but not addressed?

Have you seen examples of people overcoming this fear of stigma and finding true relief and recovery in community?

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/05/ce-corner-isolation
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/servicesandsupport/stigma-discrimination-and-mental-illness

ce-corner-isolation

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Feb 12 at 2020 5:23 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 17:23:54 -0500

With me, talking with friends and family, it helped me out a lot.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2020 5:48 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 17:48:40 -0500

We know when our inner locus is failing, and as survivors we know when to ask, or not. Outside influences other than self protection don't matter. We don't neglect our stragglers, but help them out. Take their pack and continue to march. To at least honor those that no longer can march.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Feb 12 at 2020 11:49 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 23:49:48 -0500

Col Casey "Radio" G. Stigmatized Say like Denied a Great Job, a Military Profession that I Enjoyed the Hell Out of for 21 Years? Fes Up, Oh Hell No! Now I've Been Retired for 21 Years Plus I'm sure the Statue of Limitations is Probably Up. Yeah I had "Issues" before I signed on the Dotted Line. I think it was called Depression at the time. Time has passed and they understand these things just a Little More, Asperger's, Bi-Polar. Yep. In most fields probably not Ideal but if You want to be a Navy Cryptologic Technician, Works Out Pretty Good. (Just Don't Tell Them).

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 13 at 2020 1:05 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 01:05:06 -0500

Look, Sir early 60's-to roughly mid 90;s- seeking mental health help, normally would produced the following; loss of position because CoC is worried about your reliability. Intell folks are immediately screaming for your clearance to be lifted as you are a liability. Folks around you don't to joke about or worry about you leading them off the deep end.Now you have to explain yourself to some shrink- Mil or not normally never been in the field outside a field hospital- never fired a weapon in anger, and never held a dying kid. Now explains, hyper vigilance, paranoia, dis trust, guilt feeling, thought of suicide. What you will get in 3 days in padded rooms, supervised, answering questions and group therapy. Took me several years to get my sniper slot and instructor slot, and all I did was show a "Kill'em all and Let God sort them out attitude" By the way shrinks do not have grunt humor nor gallows humor, either.
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Response by 1SG Charles Hunter made Feb 13 at 2020 1:37 PM

1SG Charles Hunter — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 13:37:13 -0500

In the 1970s, while station in Berlin, a fellow NCO sought counseling to deal with stress stemming from his ongoing divorce proceedings. He lost his clearance and was shipped out of theater. With history like this, is it any wonder people are reluctant to seek help?

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Feb 13 at 2020 1:53 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 13:53:53 -0500

In 2014 (I.e. not that long ago), I had to get a separate mental health evaluation/approval to deploy. Reason? I had gone to mental health to get meds for depression. Meds weren't a deployment issue, the fact that I had been to mental health was. Keep in mind I never expressed any suicidal thoughts or ideations, nor any homicidal ones. I was still treated as a liability and a hazard that had to get special approval to be allowed to do my job.
About a year later, I was fired from a staff position (back stateside - 6 month deployment) because I was taking time to see mental health for same depression. I was having severe motivation issue (but still getting the job done better than my peers). Again, no suicidal/homicidal anything, just malaise. Fired from an Army job for seeking help (NCOER stated that I frequently took Army time to handle personal issues and rated me unsat).

What fuels a fear of stigma? ACTUAL stigmatization!

Response by Col Casey "Radio" G. made Feb 13 at 2020 1:58 PM

Col Casey "Radio" G. — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 13:58:23 -0500

Very interesting responses. The fear of negative consequences and fallout (job, status, clearance, trust, etc.) can easily overshadow the need to exit a bad path and accept help. It's even more difficult knowing that most folks on that bad path are not even fully understanding the destinations it leads to. I'll ask a different question:
Have you seen examples of people seeking help, and then actually experiencing those negative consequences? Do you know someone personally who faced discrimination for being brave enough to do the right thing for himself/herself and family in terms of mental health and wellness?

Response by SPC Richard Zacke made Feb 13 at 2020 3:34 PM

SPC Richard Zacke — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 15:34:11 -0500

Col Casey "Radio" G. I've seen veterans avoid help because of the new Red Flag laws...if your state has it anyone can say your a threat and the police confiscate all your weapons and you have to go to court to get them back. It's at least a 9 month waiting period.. you are guilty until you can prove your not. It's their way around the second admendment...I'm not telling you not to seek help if you need it just be informed!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 15 at 2020 5:18 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 17:18:15 -0500

I will indulge you in predominant thoughts in my head at the time.

- I can't get chaptered. The army is all I know.
- My warrior ethos says I can't give up my personal fight with PTSD.
- Later I waved the white flag because I became totally irrelevant as a soldier and person.