M. David Rudd (dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Science and scientific director of the National Center for Veterans Studies at the University of Utah) has a good opinion piece in USA Today that discusses the tension between the ‘warrior identity’ built into our men and women in combat and the inevitable emotional baggage that comes along with killing and living in an atmosphere of frequent danger. As Rudd notes, there is a major perceived distinction between physical and mental injuries–while physical injuries are obvious and there is little stigma surrounding them, admitting to ‘mental wounds’ is often thought of as a sign of weakness–a weakness which conflicts with the ‘warrior identity.’

Rudd discusses the effect the stigma surrounding mental wounds on the recent increase in suicides among the military community, noting that the people often most in need are also those most reluctant to seek out help. Russ also suggests a number of possible solutions to the problem surrounding admitting and seeking help for their emotional baggage:

• Talk more frequently beforehand about optimal performance and resilience in combat, rather than post-trauma symptoms and mental illness afterward.

• Help soldiers construct a warrior identity that more clearly integrates the emotional consequences of killing.

• Encourage military leaders at the highest levels to talk openly about their own difficulty after combat experience, something that is already happening and is very effective at combating stigma.

Click here to read the full article.