Therapy at Stake
Taylor Griffis
Liberty University
2/21/21
Therapy at Stake
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Introduction
All military service members from all branches in the U.S military must be required
every month to complete 20 hours of psychological therapy to reduce any mental issues that
could lead to any self-harm to them or to others. Having psychological therapy to be mandatory
will create a better work and home environment also to have a better positive outlook on
themselves. In completing these hours, the individual should see a more positive outlook and all
suicide rates should drop at all branches of the U.S military.
Behind the Military
From the outside looking in, we have a good grasp of what being in the military entails.
As we may know that being in the military there are great benefits, but with those benefits there
is also sacrifice(s) that are made every single day. With any different sacrifice(s) that are made
comes with great emotions or feelings that military personnel can’t express because they don’t
want to show others that they are weak or that they are struggling inside. Leading to poor choices
that can affect each person that shares a life with them. With this being said, how can a person in
the military cope with such emotions and what happens if they don’t?
Suicide
One of the most incidents that happens in the military that is mostly common then we
know is the rate of suicide. Many military members commit suicide is because they feel that they
can’t escape the negative thoughts in their head and if they seek out help, they might feel weak to
their peers at work. “Military service rates are frequently compared to civilian rates and are often
reported as being higher than civilian rates” (Reinmann&Mazuchowski,2018). But how could
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this be? Every person from each branch must go through mental screens to make sure they are
mentally prepared for the days to come in the military. On top of that they also have free health
care and a secure job. But what separates them from civilians is the stressors that the military
shares including deployments or relocation. A lot of times in the military you can get others that
the individuals work with that make fun of them to seek help, which makes the situation a lot
worse. Just because someone looks fine from the outside, doesn’t mean they aren’t fighting any
demons inside. Support just depends on who the person is around.
Drinking and Tobacco Use
Another factor that trails behind suicide is drinking alcohol and the use of tobacco
products. To a certain extent both aren’t a severe harm to the individual, but just depend on the
amount consumed by the individual. Military personnel use alcohol and tobacco as a cooping
method because it is a normal method to do it in the military world because everyone around
does it. But with all the negative thoughts or stressful situations it’s not a permeant fix, just a
temperately one that can have consequences to follow. Many of the consequences have to do
with job related things like physical work, endurance, night vision, hearing, and cognitive
functioning. “It results increased absenteeism and a decreased productivity” (Institute of
Medicine (US) Committee on Smoking Cessation in Military and Veteran Populations,1970). It
makes the individual not increase any positive outcomes.
No Therapy
Even though military personnel are at high risk of negative situations, a lot of them don’t
believe having a type of psychological therapy is needed. The reason is because of, “the concerns
about the public stigma, as reflected in the extent to which an individual believes he or she will
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be stigmatized by others for having a mental problem(..)” (Vogt,2011). According to research the
biggest barrier is public stigma. “Mental health treatment may serve as important barriers to the
service use” (Vogt,2011). With military personnel not wanting therapy is more so to do with a
pride factor and causes issues as a veteran down the road. Therapy is there to help break barriers
to help them with deeper issues than their pride.
Psychological Therapy is NEEDED
From the research it is detected that psychological therapy should be mandatory for 20
hours each month. Also, we can see from back then to today that suicide rates are increasing and
affecting the military community. On top of that, military personnel are more likely to pick
alternatives like alcohol and tobacco because it suppresses their cognitive thinking for a short
term that later causes issues that relate to their job. They aren’t looking for a long-term affect,
just an easy fix. All of this is related to their pride and the stigma from the outside as it affects
their thinking. Psychological therapy is designed to make the individuals think deep down to fix
their thinking from a more positive perspective to help them long term in life creating a better
atmosphere for themselves and for the people that surround them. 20 hours are mandatory for
each month, so they come back to figure out how to help recoup in areas and bring new thoughts
up as they approach. This is to make sure everyone is going and don’t have an option about
whether they want to go or not. Leading to if everyone goes, the pride stigma shouldn’t be an
issue, suicide rates could trickle down, and maybe the use of alcohol and tobacco will be
minimized.
Conclusion
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In conclusion, having psychological therapy for 20 hours mandatory each month will
open so many benefits for the military. Leaving each military branch, a positive environment
than the one they have now. Negative perspectives start to fall, as positive ones start to conquer
leading a stronger and better military service for the United States of America.
Sources
•
Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Smoking Cessation in Military and Veteran
Populations. (1970, January 01). Scope of the problem. Retrieved February 21, 2021,
from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK215338/
•
Reimann, C., & Mazuchowski, E. (2018, April 03). Suicide rates among active duty service
members compared with Civilian COUNTERPARTS, 2005–2014. Retrieved February 21,
2021, from https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article/183/suppl_1/396/4959986
•
Vogt, D. (2011). Mental health-related beliefs as a barrier to service use for military
personnel and veterans: A review. Psychiatric Services, 62(2), 135-142.
doi:10.1176/ps.62.2.pss6202_0135
