Opinion | Mental Health is not the same as Mental Strength: Why it Matters in the Military.

Introduction

According to researchers, “One of the greatest obstacles to the early and effective treatment of mental disorders, arising from the stress of military operations, is the heavy burden of social stigma associated with them.” Unfortunately, the knee-jerk reaction to mental health issues within the military culture tends to be “suck it up” and  “suffer in silence” while the matter is never resolved. However, though this is a necessary mindset to have, given the proper context, I also believe that the military is missing a crucial part of this puzzle and failing to recognize that we are human beings with limitations.

Problem With Mental Health Stigma

There has been a long history of mental health stigma within the military. Unfortunately, it has created an unhealthy environment in which those who need help can’t or won’t get it for fear of feeling weak, inadequate, or losing the respect of leadership and their peers. Additionally, service members fear that speaking up about mental health issues may affect their ability to get promoted or obtain/maintain a security clearance which could have lasting effects on their career. 

This kind of stigma within an organization whose sole purpose is to defend our nation against foreign and domestic enemies is counterintuitive. A marine, sailor, soldier, or airmen should be continuously honing their mind, body, and profession to perform at the most optimal level possible. So how does the military expect these service members to be mentally sound when they are worried about all the repercussions of speaking up about mental health? Having said this,  I believe that the words “mental health” and “mental strength” or “toughness” are used interchangeably when in fact they are quite different. 

Mental Health vs. Mental Strength

The difference between mental health and mental strength becomes more apparent when we compare them to physical health and physical strength. We know physical strength to be the process of working out our body in order for it to grow in endurance, flexibility, and strength. We also know that doing so has the potential to benefit your overall physical health. However, that doesn’t mean you are completely exempt from any physical health injuries or ailments such as high cholesterol, diabetes, or even broken bones. In fact, it is quite common for those with physical strength to still be susceptible to physical health problems that are outside of their control. 

So how then do we begin to treat mental health and mental strength within their respective domains without the stigma? The first step is to define both mental health and mental strength. Mental health is more or less the presence or absence of mental health issues. Think of it as your overall state of mental wellness. Whereas, mental strength is your ability to cope with negative emotions and your understanding of emotions and knowing when to engage with or take a step back from them. My point is a mentally strong individual can still be susceptible to mental health issues, ranging from anxiety to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  

We must understand that mental health conditions that affect thinking and behavior aren’t always something people have complete control over and can be caused by genetic predispositions, imbalanced chemicals, and emotional trauma. Mental illnesses are not a direct reflection of character or willpower by any means. Affected individuals need support and professional help, not to be told to just suck it up. That can only go so far with those that actually need help. 

Destigmatizing Mental Health

In recent news, Four Star General Mike Minihan of the Air Mobility Command openly tweeted a picture of his calendar with his mental health appointment visible to all, giving those under his command the opportunity to follow his lead. “Mental health is simply health. There can be no stigma in my headquarters, command, or family. Warrior Heart is leadership. Warrior Heart is fine-tuning mind, body, and craft to ensure individual and team readiness. It’s a wingman and warfighting imperative necessary to win.” remarked Minihan in an interview with Task & Purpose. 

Although I don’t know what General Minihan meant by Warrior Heart, I can speculate that this is his idea of a warrior mentality that translates to being as close to mission capable as possible. This means taking the necessary steps to make sure you are physically ready, mentally ready, and proficient in whatever your job title is because that is part of your duty as a service member.

To piggyback off General Minihan, we need to recognize that we are all unique individuals that vary quite differently from morals/ethics to emotional needs/trauma. With that being said, an individual’s mental strength and mental health can also vary, and it is up to them to make sure they are honing their mind, body, and craft in order to be fit for duty. 

The Road To Mental Strength

The environment in which a service member is in should provide both resources and programs in order to maintain their mental health and mental strength. Again, think of it in terms of physical health and physical strength. There are on-base hospitals, physical therapy clinics, and more for serious physical injuries and training centers, tracks, and obstacle courses for physical strength. Additionally, there should be resilience programs (i.e. programs that hone skills like self-control, self-awareness, and optimism) incorporated within training schedules. Furthermore, there should be psychologists built into units to build rapport with service members. This would allow for a more organic relationship and the ability to track each member’s training cycles and deployments, developing an overall picture of mental health problems that could arise and how to deal with the operational stress.   

Asking for help should be normalized across all branches of the military, and in doing so would facilitate the Department of Defense in obtaining the mission readiness status required of all service members.

Solutions and Resources 

In conclusion, there needs to be a clear distinction between mental health and mental strength within the military. Once we have successfully identified and defined mental health and mental strength within the military and created an environment where both domains can be tended to, we can then begin to reframe how we currently view this stigma. The Department of Defense should consider putting more of an emphasis on mental strength and providing resources/programs that are accessible to service members, while simultaneously continuing to focus on reducing the stigma of mental health care. Doing so could prevent service members from internalizing their emotions and instead opting to seek out professional help when problems start to arise. 

For any veteran, service member (active, guard, and reserves), and/or families that need help here are a few resources that provide free and confidential services. Military Crisis Line is a service that you can call 24/7 for mental health support. Keep in mind this isn’t just for those who have suicidal ideations; this is for any mental health issue (depression, anxiety, feeling alone, unsure of what to do next, etc.) Another additional resource for active duty, guard, reserve, and their families is Military OneSource which again provides free, confidential, and non-medical counseling. Lastly, I would like to put my contact information out there (Seth Stockmaster- sstockma@unca.edu). Know that I am more than willing to have a conversation or help you find resources near you that will get you back on your feet and in the fight.

-Semper Fidelis