Stigma Surrounding Mental Health in the Military
Hi everyone, welcome back to the Center Street Psychology blog! If you’re new here, scroll back to see blogs on topics such as attachment theory, having difficult conversations, and grief during the holidays. This week, having just passed November 8 (Indigenous Veteran’s Day) and November 11 (Remembrance Day), it seemed timely to comment on some of the stigma surrounding mental health in the military and also discuss resources available for both past and active-duty members.
According to Veteran’s Affairs Canada, about one-fifth of Canadian Veterans experience a diagnosed mental health disorder at some point during their lifespan. The most common diagnoses are depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (complex PTSD, sometimes abbreviated to c-PTSD or CPTSD), and panic and anxiety disorders. Canadians who do not include RCMP members, firefighters, police, or other first responders also experience mental health struggles. There can often be a stigma surrounding accessing mental health supports while being an active-duty member for several reasons, such as military culture, the importance of perceived weakness and ability, and/or concern for employment. A jarring fact from a study in 2020 shared that the suicide rate for Veterans was 33/10,1000 deaths. Most of those deaths had at least one, sometimes two, co-occurring disorders that include depression, PTSD, CPTSD, substance abuse and use, panic and anxiety disorders. Veterans who have died by suicide were also reported to have had at least one prominent work and/or life stressor, such as failing relationship(s), friend/family suicide, family/friend death, family and/or personal illness, debt, professional or legal problems, and just over half reported two or more co-occurring problems. You are not alone.
What resources are there for people to access?
Talk Suicide Canada (for anyone): 1-833-456-4566
Hope for Wellness Line (Indigenous Clients): 1-855-242-3310
Veterans/Former RCMP Members, their families and caregivers: 1-800-268-7708
Victims of Military Sexual Trauma: 1-844-750-1648
Lifespeak: an online mental and physical health information and support resource for Veterans and their families. LifeSpeak is provided free of charge and can be accessed online anonymously and confidentially anytime and anywhere (https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/health-support/mental-health-and-wellness/understanding-mental-health/lifespeak)
Many of the clinicians at Center Street Psychology offer a variety of treatments for PTSD, CTPSD, anxiety, depression, and substance use and abuse, work with suicidal ideations, and couples and family therapy, and can provide support through challenging personal and interpersonal concerns.
Written by: Lindsay Mcnena
