Let’s Change the Conversation Around Mental Health

Excerpt from Michelle Obama‘s Huffington Post article

“Through my work with service members and veterans as part of Joining Forces – the initiative Dr. Jill Biden and I launched to rally Americans to honour and support our veterans and military families – I’ve seen that Ryan’s experience isn’t unique. Like Ryan, some of our heroes on the battlefield struggle with the wounds of war – both visible and invisible – when they come home, but hesitate to ask for help.

Of course, it’s important to remember that most of our veterans don’t experience any mental health challenges at all.

But the veterans and service members who do struggle are not alone – not by a long shot. In fact, roughly one in five adults – more than 40 million Americans – suffer from a diagnosable mental health condition like depression or anxiety. These conditions affect people of every age and every background: our kids and grandparents, our friends and neighbours.

Sadly, too often, the stigma around mental health prevents people who need help from seeking it. But that simply doesn’t make any sense.”