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DISCLAIMER: This web site is not monitored 24/7. If you are in crisis or suicidal, please call the suicide hotline listed below (right), 911 in the United States, or go to your nearest emergency room. Please read more on this site's confidentiality and exemption of liability here.

Real Stories from Active-Duty and Veteran Service Members and Families Like Yours

 

Active-Duty Service Member Story

Usually, MFP receives stories via the website that go through my email for editing to ensure anonymity. Recently, I received a call because the person in question wanted to tell me his story instead of writing it down. That is fine with me because I read through the stories anyway. This story involves a Soldier’s encounter with mental health professionals while active duty and the need for support as a Veteran. Read more.

This Soldier had problems seeking out mental health services because of stigma and problems with his leadership. Once he had the courage to seek out help, he felt the doctors didn't really care. Read more.

Veteran Service Member Story

A Veteran describes the negative consequences that can happen when a Service member leaves his or her branch of service unprepared because of inadequate preparation from his or her Service branch. Read more.

A Veteran talks about a therapy called Alpha Stim and how it is working, or not working, for him or her. Read more.

A Veteran, who decided he was ready for mental health care, specifically counseling, asked MPF for help finding a mental health center that would potentially do some sessions over the phone because he travels daily. This Veteran dislikes the VA and does not trust it, so MPF found something similar that fills his needs. He is now in counseling. Read more.

Military Family Story

Here is a tragic story that illustrates how mental health issues affect generations of family members. The person who submitted this story urges everyone to seek care to achieve mental health wellness. Read more.

Here is a story from a woman who is heart broken from losing the man she loved; a love that began years ago when she saw him across a diner and then bloomed when given a second chance when they met again years later. Their story ends tragically, like many these days, when he died as a result of what we now know as PTSD. He served in Vietnam where the symptoms were seen as they are today. He suffered especially from substance use, hypervigilance and a severe sleep disorder, but he didn’t have the current medical diagnosis of PTSD until it was too late. Like Veterans today, he endured bad and inappropriate care from the VA and he solved the problem the way too many Veterans do; he ended is his pain by putting a bullet through his head. Now, this woman suffers, as do many of us. Please read this poignant, heartbreaking story to understand we need action now. Our Veterans have been suffering far too long and suicide should never be an option. Read more.

One spouse explains how they were not properly educated about health care benefits prior to her husband's separation from the Army.  Read more.

About Matthew Story

This is a story written by a friend of Matthews while he was active-duty. Thank you for writing in about our son. Read more.

Latest News

"American Corporate Partners—Helping Service Members Transition to Civilian Life"

Less than 1% of the American Population will ever serve their country. Transitioning from military life to civilian can be challenging and Veterans are finding there is little help in the transition for themselves and their spouses. Learn about American Corporate Partners (ACP), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that eases the transition by “helping returning Veterans and Active duty spouses find their next careers” through career guidance, mentoring, and finding employment opportunities. Read more.

"Suicide - Can You Guess Suicide’s Ice Cream Flavor? Hint: Grab a Big Bowl……. AND Resources"

Here are part six and seven, which complete the seven part series I wrote for the RIARNG 243rd Regiment Regional Training Institute’s newsletter using ice cream as a metaphor to talk about difficult mental health subject matter. Part six was difficult for me to write such that I asked for at least one extension. Why? Because I couldn’t simply provide you a list of risk factors and warning signs. Instead, I chose to teach them through telling Matthew’s story, since he was the poster child for suicide. Every risk factor/warning sign Matthew exhibited before dying by suicide is italicized. Part seven is a list of national, national with local chapters/centers, and local resources for you to turn to for information or help. I must thank SFC Jim Duncanson for giving me this opportunity to reach a broad audience. I hope I succeeded teaching you that stigma is not legitimate and that it is ok to talk about these difficult MEDICAL problems, which happen to have psychological and behavioral signs and symptoms that alone or together can lead to suicide. Read more.

"Suicide -Shocking News……Even Ice Cream Has a Substance Use Problem"

This is part four of a seven part series I wrote for the RIARNG 243rd Regiment Regional Training Institute’s newsletter about using ice cream as a metaphor to talk about difficult mental health subject matter. I feel it is important for MPF to share this important and interesting subject matter to our faithful followers as well. It is my hope that through this series you will learn that stigma is not legitimate and that it is ok to talk about these difficult MEDICAL problems, which happen to have psychological and behavioral signs and symptoms that alone or together can lead to suicide. Please read and learn; if you have questions please ask in the comments section following the article. You will remain anonymous, so all answers will post to the public without your personal information. If you want a response from me, you must leave your information so I can answer you specifically. I hope you enjoy what I consider to be lighthearted writing about serious medical problems that do have solutions, so let's read about stigma and ice cream in relation to substance use disorder (alcohole) using MST an an example. Trust me, this will be interesting. Read more.

"Suicide - Different Traumas Make PTSD Triggers and Symptoms A Vanilla Canvas"

This is part four of a seven part series I wrote for the RIARNG 243rd Regiment Regional Training Institute’s newsletter about using ice cream as a metaphor to talk about difficult mental health subject matter. I feel it is important for MPF to share this important and interesting subject matter to our faithful followers as well. It is my hope that through this series you will learn that stigma is not legitimate and that it is ok to talk about these difficult MEDICAL problems, which happen to have psychological and behavioral signs and symptoms that alone or together can lead to suicide. Please read and learn; if you have questions please ask in the comments section following the article. You will remain anonymous, so all answers will post to the public without your personal information. If you want a response from me, you must leave your information so I can answer you specifically. I hope you enjoy what I consider to be lighthearted writing about serious medical problems that do have solutions, so let's read about stigma and ice cream in relation to PTSD using MST an an example. Trust me, this will be interesting. Read more.

"Suicide - Depression is Serious; Death by Chocolate Serious.........."

This is part three of a seven part series I wrote for the RIARNG 243rd Regiment Regional Training Institute’s newsletter about using ice cream as a metaphor to talk about difficult mental health subject matter. I feel it is important for MPF to share this important and interesting subject matter to our faithful followers as well. It is my hope that through this series you will learn that stigma is not legitimate and that it is ok to talk about these difficult MEDICAL problems, which happen to have psychological and behavioral signs and symptoms that alone or together can lead to suicide. Please read and learn; if you have questions please ask in the comments section following the article. You will remain anonymous, so all answers will post to the public without your personal information. If you want a response from me, you must leave your information so I can answer you specifically. I hope you enjoy what I consider to be lighthearted writing about serious medical problems that do have solutions, so let's read about stigma and ice cream in relation to depression/anxiety. Trust me, this will be interesting. Read more.