Steve Schmid, who formerly served in the Army National Guard, says he’s witnessed firsthand soldiers struggling with mental illness—and that his unit was not equipped to have conversations about mental health.
“We are raised within the military community to not really have problems and not talk about problems,” said Schmid, who was honorably discharged and now serves as the senior director for Highland Rivers Behavioral Health’s Intensive Community and Veterans Services. “You continue to drive on with the mission.”
Data suggests that many veterans and soldiers struggle with trauma, PTSD, and many other invisible wounds. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 6,200 veterans died by suicide in 2019.
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