Shattering the Stigma of Mental Health in the Military: How We Can Help

Defying the stigma surrounding mental health in the military is crucial as the nation navigates the ongoing challenges of the pandemic. Analogous to the broader societal shift, the armed forces grapple with perceptions of weakness, career implications, and self-reliance barriers hindering mental health care for service members.

While progress has been made in dismantling this stigma, hurdles persist. Understanding military culture, carefully choosing language to avoid negative labels, and approaching service members with empathy are pivotal. Acknowledging the subtlety of ‘invisible’ mental health disorders is essential, given the military’s emphasis on strength and resilience.

As advocates for mental health, Focused Solutions encourages dialogue and offers resources to diminish stigma within the military. We envision a future where seeking mental health support is as commonplace as an annual physical. Explore resources from the Psychological Health Center of Excellence (PCHoE), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and the Military Health System website (Mil) to contribute to this transformative journey.

Military culture: Service members are conditioned to be strong, resilient and mission-ready. “Invisible” mental health disorders can present more subtly than more “visible” physical ailments, and therefore might be considered less serious or severe. Understanding this cultural conflict while discussing the benefits of mental health care can be helpful.

Words matter: The language we use can help fuel or diffuse stigma. Labels with negative connotations encourage stigma. Putting the person first – “mentally ill” becomes “an individual living with mental illness”, for example – is a way to minimize labeling that can contribute to a more positive perception of mental health.
Approach with empathy: The above-mentioned barriers to care can be monumental. Seeking to understand what might be holding a particular service member back from accessing mental health help could help break down those barriers and create a path to treatment specific to that service member’s needs.

The Psychological Health Center of Excellence (PCHoE)

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

The Military Health System website (Mil)