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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.

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Utmost gratitude to the Patton family for touching all of us today with their incredibly heartfelt story about their son who committed suicide 2 years ago. Your efforts to raise suicide awareness to protect Soldiers from committing this irreversible tragedy is appreciated. Thank you for your time!
— Charlie Company, 82ND BSB, 3rd BCT, 82nd ABN DIV

It was very powerful message. I think it reached a lot of people's hearts and will remind them to keep an eye out for their friends. Thank you.
—Soldier from Fort Bragg

Great presentation and message today. Very grateful to have been able to be there for it.
— Soldier from Fort Bragg

I am more than 100% sure that she will save lives.
— Soldier from Fort Bragg

I like the website because the information is arranged in small sections and it is easy to understand. It helped me understand what I am feeling.
— From a Veteran

This is so awesome!!! He had such a big heart as well!!
— Soldier from Fort Hood

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

"Suicide - Even with Traumatic Brain Injury Stigma Can Make Recovery a Rocky Road"

This is part two 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 personal 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 as an introduction to the flavors I will choose, and why, for TBI, depression, PTSD, SUD, and finally, suicide. Trust me, this will be interesting......and try guessing the flavors yourself. I will post an article every week to give you a chance to guess. Read more.

"Suicide - Let’s Talk About Stigma Like It’s a Flavor of Ice Cream"

This is part one 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. This is MY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY and 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 personal 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 as an introduction to the flavors I will choose, and why, for TBI, depression, PTSD, SUD, and finally, suicide. Trust me, this will be interesting......and try guessing the flavors yourself. I will post an article every week to give you a chance to guess. Read more.

"STRIDE & RIDE RELAY IS ALMOST HERE; WILL YOU TAKE THE CHALLENGE?"

Together we will honor and remember all of our Military Men and Women who so willingly left the safety of their homes 16-years ago to present to serve our country, while giving thanks to our Veterans, First Responders and pay our respects to the 2,977 lives lost on 9/11. The focus of this relay event is to honor and remember the October 7th, 2001 deployment of our Military Men & Women, those still serving, those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, our Veterans, and the Military Men and Women we lose everyday due to PTSD and the invisible wounds of war. Take the Challenge and be a part of this exciting 911 mile journey by picking up a stage. The stages listed (by state) in this article are those that still need someone to join, so the entire relay is covered for over eight days and seven nights. Consider joining a stage right now to accomplish something we could never to alone. Read more.

Please remember that each stage is about uniting together, overcoming fears, and reaching outside your comfort zone with the intention of doing something greater than yourself by reaching the target points for your chosen leg. Sign up now to participate in this life changing events.

"How did 9/11 Make You Feel? Stride & Ride Relay Will Empower and Inspire Us Post 9/11"

September 11, 2001 our country was attacked and our way of living was changed forever. We lost many lives that day and continue to face losses of our Service Men and Women, Veterans, their Families, and our First Responders because they still either continue to suffer the aftereffects of that day or die by suicide because their pain runs two deep, even 16 years later. Please read this article about Stride & Ride Relay because participating in this epic event will not only all honor those I listed above, but it will help all who participate to take their power back; power that was taken away starting on that day. Here is a direct link http://www.strideandride.com/run.asp for stages you can join in unity as proud Americans. States in particular need of participants are CT, NY, PA and MD. Read more.

This article will appear in a condensed version in the August Newsletter published by the 243rd Training Regiment (for which it was orginially written) out of Camp Varnum in RI. Editor: SFC James Duncanson.