Reducing Stigma for American Military Personnel

This page contains the links to a recording and presentation on mental illness stigma for military personnel. I participated in the original webinar, and was truly impressed by the quality of the consumers and other participant insights. Well worth a listen.

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Nearly 1.4 million men and women make up the existing ranks of active duty military personnel, serving in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, but research shows that America’s soldiers may not seek help when they are experiencing a mental health problem.

A 2004 study of 6,000 military personnel involved in ground combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan found that of those whose responses indicated a mental health problem, only 23 to 40 percent sought psychiatric help.¹ Many who did not cited fear of being stigmatized as a reason.² In June of this year, the Department of Defense Task Force on Mental Health acknowledged that “Stigma in the military remains pervasive and often prevents service members from seeking needed care” and made dispelling stigma one of their goals.³

This training will:

• Explore research on soldiers, including veterans, and mental health stigma.
• Offer first-hand accounts from people who have experienced mental health stigma in the military.
• Provide an overview of strategies that may help to promote mental health recovery and reduce stigma among members of the military."