Why is it so hard for military members to say something when they see a fellow brother or sister in emotional distress?

How do you respond if everyone is suppose a rock hard stud? It's hard to admit needing help to others, that's why we have the highest suicide rate in the nation.

There are several reasons. People may not want to seem like they're "prying". For a lot of people (men especially) emotional distress is seen as weakness. So some may stay away because they see the person as weak OR, they may stay away because they really do care for the person and don't want to embarrass them. They may feel that if they say something they'll be validating their weakness. Women, in my experience, are much better at this than men. I marvel at the way the women in my life can just open up to each other and pour out every emotion. I'm admittedly very bad at it. When I get emotional, I distance myself from others, bottle it up, and try to work past it myself. Even with a very trusted friend nearby the situation has to be perfect for me to open up. This brings me to another reason someone may not reach out to others. They feel like since they can't handle it very well, what good can they do for someone else.

Sometimes other service members see themselves in that same dilemma and still cannot offer consolation. It's like when someone close dies; what are the best words to use for the grieving loved one? Most of the time we can only offer silence and a held hand. It is best to have genuine empathy before commenting on the one in distress, but often an embrace will help.