'I spoke up': Former military mom urges other service members to 'prioritize' mental health
Rideout is not alone. Leah Blain, a psychologist and the clinic director at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Penn, said that members of the military and National Guard are more likely to experience mental health conditions for a variety of reasons. The National Guard is an element of the U.S. military that serves the community and country — they respond to domestic emergencies, overseas combat missions and more. They can be called on in a moment's notice.
All this stress may contribute to depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Yet, finding treatment can be challenging.
“There are so many barriers to seeking care for our service members,” Blain said. “Many report that they’re concerned seeking behavioral health care, in particular, could really impact their eligibility to continue to serve or for a promotion.”
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