A General Fights to Destigmatize Mental Health Issues: ‘There’s a Shame if You Show Weakness’

A General Fights to Destigmatize Mental Health Issues: ‘There’s a Shame if You Show Weakness’

Posted on March 19, 2022

“Members of the military have to function at a very high level and that takes a toll,” said Sherman Gillums Jr., NAMI Chief Strategy Officer and retired Marine officer. “We are taught to mask anything that is wrong with us, to adapt and overcome. Military culture looks at asking for help as a liability, from recruitment to training to the rest of one’s career.” Mr. Gillums noted that more troops were sharing their experiences with sexual harassment, assault and mental health struggles on social media. “This could be an intergenerational shift,” he said, “starting with young people who see themselves as humans first beyond their uniform and weapon.”