FORT STEWART, Ga. -- Although it has not been heavily publicized, the 3rd Infantry Division has been working hand in hand with researchers from Clemson University for a number of years now in order to facilitate a study funded by a grant from the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command.

The grant’s purpose: to improve the health of the force by reducing the stigma associated with seeking behavioral health treatment.

Thomas W. Britt, a psychology professor with Clemson University, and the principal investigator for the study, explained how his department took on this endeavor in 2010, and has been conducting research and formulating a plan to achieve these goals ever since.

“Basically, the grant was a multi-year project to do a number of studies which culminated in this training [we developed and are evaluating now],” Britt explained.

Even though many have probably seen campaigns by senior Army leadership trying to change these stigmas, Clemson’s initial research pointed towards some other method being necessary to affect a change within the ranks.

“The focus groups showed us that the stigma is still alive and well at the smallest unit level,” said Britt.

After years of research with the help of Soldiers from the 3rd ID, the team at Clemson put together a two to three hour training block based on discussion and video presentations. Read More