Veterans

A Veteran's View On Mental Health

In this interview with Spectrum News, Patrick Welch shares his experiences with PTSD as a child and Vietnam War veteran. He describes feeling isolated after returning to civilian life, and how peer support from Vietnam Veterans of America gave him “a home,” helped to break the stigma of mental illness, and empowered him to advocate for and support other veterans experiencing mental health issues.

Click the title to view the full interview from Spectrum News. The interview was part of Spectrum News’ #IAm1in5 series, which seeks to fight the stigma of mental illness by sharing local stories.

Security Clearances and Psychological Health Care

One of the most common Distorted Perceptions about behavioral health in the military is that revealing your diagnosis will automatically hurt your chances of advancing professionally. The Real Warriors Campaign challenges this idea, stating that “the decision to seek psychological health care counseling can actually favorably affect your eligibility for a clearance.” Check out their article for the ins and outs of how this process works.

Staff Sgt. Josh Hopper (Video)

Staff Sgt. Josh Hopper (Video)

Staff Sgt. Josh Hopper talks about how dealing with PTSD and addiction “like a marine” means talking to your commanding officer and receiving the treatment you need. “Being active duty, you’re branded as the tough guy… it takes real strength to swallow your pride and say I need help and actually get it.”

Humans of New York Invisible Wounds Series- Entry #6

“I’d never gotten help because I never wanted to appear weak. I’m the son of a man who lost his entire team in Vietnam. I’ve been through some of the toughest training on earth. I never quit anything in my life. So it took me the longest time to admit that I had a problem.”

Human Resources Practices: Understanding and Overcoming the Stigma of PTSD

“Misperceptions have emerged that negatively impact Veterans’ employment opportunities; opportunities which research shows are a major component of successful reintegration into civilian life.” ​​​​​​

The Stigma that Stops Veterans from Getting Help for PTSD (video)

The Stigma that Stops Veterans from Getting Help for PTSD (video)

When talking about PTS, retired Army Col. Greg Gadson chooses not to include the letter D. “Well, the D to me is — it’s a negative label that doesn’t need to be attached... We all have some level of post-traumatic stress. Does it make us dysfunctional? For most of us, I would say not.”

Humans of New York Invisible Wounds Series- Entry #4

“He said: ‘Mom and Dad, I want to tell you something.’ I thought he had cancer. But he said: ‘I’ve been diagnosed with PTSD.’ When I heard those words, my heart sank. I thought it meant forever. I thought it meant a lifetime. But he explained to us that he was getting treatment. And that it was going away. My husband is a retired police officer. After Chris left, he said to me: ‘I’m so proud of him for talking about this stuff. Because I never did.’”