New blog post

[CGWildcat]

Probably the most honest writing I've ever done.

http://www.rogerelliottphotography.com/depression-is-at-the-door/

[PedroDaGr8]

A well written piece! One thing I will add to your comments about depression. Medicine can help, therapy can help (about the same as medicine) but medicine+therapy actually helps better than the sum of the parts. Mental illness and mental issues are still such taboo topics in society it is disappointing. Too many people, especially men, go untreated because they try to tough it out.

[KSRBEvans]

CG, an excellent post and I'm glad you're getting the help you need. There is a long-time custom, mindset, whatever you want to call it, in the military that you have to "drive on" or "suck it up" when it comes to medical issues generally and emotional/behavioral health issues specifically. Seeking help was (still is, to a large degree) seen as a sign of weakness by some.

This resulted in a spike in suicide rates among active-duty military and an attempt to change that culture/mindset and encourage people to get the help they need. It's working IMHO but is far from solved. It needs to stay at the forefront of conversation, especially now that combat deployments are dropping and people assume we can return to a "peacetime" approach. Deployments haven't stopped (for seagoing vessels they never will) and we're not in peacetime.

[MickintheHam]

Outstanding! I would only add that athletics and some employers perpetuate the tough it out mindset.

[CGWildcat]

A new post is up. Thanks for all the comments and support!


http://www.rogerelliottphotography.com/studying-art-photography/