Home Again:Veterans and Families Initiative: PTSD Stigma

Monday, November 2, 2009

PTSD Stigma

The stigma associated with PTSD for veterans and active duty service members must be overcome. PTSD and other mental health consequences of war have been stigmatized to the degree that many veterans who are suffering are not willing to come forward and seek the treatment they need to get better. As a result, veterans refuse to seek the help they need and are entitled to.

Many veterans could benefit from breaking out of the "suck it up and soldier on" mentality which is the norm for service members. It's important for veterans to know that it is okay to seek help, and in fact, seeking help is a sign of strength. Unforunately, the chain of command has historically considered seeking treatment to be a sign of being a weak soldier, who is mentality unfit, and that stigma has carried over in transition to civilian life. Fighting this attitude is probably the biggest obstacle for veterans with PTSD.

Many veterans suffer behind closed doors without any sense of hope for the future. They believe by suppressing their memories and by "boxing it up" that the memories will go away. There are veterans who live in in the shadow, unwilling to reach out and admit they can't battle this "invisible wound of war" on their own. Veterans should know that they can always apply what the military has taugh- to "adapt and overcome" and accomplish the mission by seeking treatment for a better way of life. Help does not come to those who don't seek it. Veterans are not alone!

Anti Stigma Resources/Articles

Army.Mil
http://www.army.mil/-news/2009/10/08/28458-education-key-to-overcome-ptsd-stigma/

National Alliance for Mental Illness
http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=fight_stigma

Veterans Resource-National Alliance for Mental Illness
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Veterans_Resources&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=53587&lstid=879

NCPTSD
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/ptsd-work-and-community.asp

Wounded Warrior Project
https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/content/view/915/921/

National Institute of Mental Health
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml

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ABOUT US

Our mission is to provide education that facilitates an understanding of the military as its own sub-culture to those who serve our nation’s bravest. If you are providing education, housing, employment or clinical care to veterans and their families, you need Home Again. If you are committed to veterans succeeding you must understand their mindset, challenges and the milieu they operate under. Home Again dispels idealizations and myths about the military and focuses on its strengths, values, vocabulary, routines and needs.
Home Again: Veterans and Families Initiative enables providers and others to do their usual work in an enhanced, culturally informed way that places a priority on veterans and military families. We make this happen through education and have trained over 900 community providers such as:

Child protective services

Mental health clinicians

Higher education institutions

Work readiness programs

Our training goes far beyond an introduction to the culture of the military. We address the invisible wounds and hallmarks of the most recent wars. We give you the tools you need to help veterans and their families succeed, reintegrate and get on with their lives. Our training team includes a clinician (with expertise in trauma), and Veteran Peer Advocates who have walked the walk and understand the military experience.