By CSM Benjamin Scott, Jr., WTC Command Sergeant Major
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CSM Benjamin Scott, Jr., WTC Command Sergeant Major
Behavioral health means a lot of things to many different people. I’ve seen how behavioral health care can improve the lives of Army wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers and Veterans. But others don’t see beyond the stigma around behavioral health or how behavioral health is vital to so many individuals in our Army communities. This only fuels the fire that prevents Soldiers and Veterans from getting the behavioral health care they need. It’s a perception that needs to change now.
How can those in the wounded, ill, and injured community change the stigmatized views on behavioral health? Encourage those around you to recognize and promote behavioral health the same way they promote physical health. This helps ensure that warriors and their Families focus not only on their physical health, but their behavioral health well-being too.
I came across a tagline from Mental Health America, an organization that promotes behavioral health awareness, that resonated with me, “Do More for 1 in 4.” More than one in four American adults lives with a diagnosable, treatable behavioral health condition. That percentage is even higher in the Army wounded, ill, and injured population. These are Soldiers and Veterans in installations, churches, synagogues, mosques, offices, and other workplaces across the country and world. More importantly, they are people that I care about. That’s why behavioral health awareness is so important to the Army and is a priority for Army warrior care.
When a Soldier loses an arm, leg, or watches a comrade be attacked or killed, there is a natural response or reaction to such a traumatic event. As Soldiers, we sometimes have broken bones that are re-set and cast, allowing us to continue with our lives in a meaningful productive way. The same is true for our behavioral health—with treatment, Soldiers and Veterans can get better. The wounded, ill, and injured community must try to see the common ground between physical and behavioral health.
Do not be silent about behavioral health issues anymore. Please set the proper example of empathy, sympathy, compassion, and respect. This example will help Soldiers and Veterans connect with Family, friends, and their communities. Help them seek the behavioral health care they need.
For more information on the Army behavioral health care, please visit the U.S. Army Behavioral Health website.
