U.S. Army Sargent Kyle White is only the seventh living veteran of America’s wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to receive the Medal of Honor, our nation’s highest decoration for battlefield valor. He is also one of the millions of veterans who experienced struggles with mental health once he returned home from deployment.
The memories of that fateful day on November 9, 2007, when White and his comrades were ambushed by enemy fire have stayed with him; even now, nine years later, he can still recall the day in vivid detail.
White was knocked unconscious when a rocket-propelled grenade detonated next to him. Just as he awoke, an enemy round fragmented near his head, sending shrapnel into his face. Shaking off the wounds, White noticed one of his comrades lying severely injured nearby. Without hesitation, White exposed himself to enemy fire in order to reach the soldier and provide medical aid, ultimately saving his life. White risked his own life yet again to secure a radio to update friendly forces and ensure he and his fellow soldiers would be evacuated.
“The one thing I would like to emphasize about the battle of November 9, 2007, was that it was 100 percent a team effort,” White said. “For me, the Medal of Honor has been and always will be a symbol of our team effort as well as a reminder of the sacrifices made by the heroes who gave their lives in the defense of our nation’s freedom.”
White applies the same team effort outlook when he encourages other veterans to seek out mental health treatment after returning home. He is a spokesperson for the Cohen Veterans Network (CVN), an organization that provides free mental health services for veterans and their families.
“When I returned from Afghanistan, I realized that something was wrong. I didn’t feel like myself,” White said.
What White was actually experiencing was post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition that can occur in anyone who undergoes a traumatic experience, from a car crash to live combat. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, or uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
White sought treatment shortly after he noticed the signs of PTSD. Taking action helped him understand that seeking out mental health treatment is actually a sign of strength and readiness. The support he received, he said, helped him cope with PTSD, move on with his life, finish school, and start his post-military career.
“When you are in the military, you know what is expected of you. You know what your next six months look like; you know the training calendar, and you know what you need to do. When you leave the military, that structure disappears overnight. That sense of knowing is gone,” White said. “But by seeking out mental health care, I was able to see it was just another component of preparation and readiness, and that readiness is absolutely vital in the transition process to civilian life.”
Since 2002, more than 2 million U.S. Military personnel have become veterans with approximately 40 percent experiencing mental health issues, including PTSD, struggles with addiction, depression, and grief. Often, stigma is the main barrier to seeking treatment.
“For anyone, but especially for our soldiers, asking for help can seem like a failure,” said David Oslin, MD, executive director of the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Penn. “We have to make it OK for our veterans to ask for help in the same way they rely on the help of fellow soldiers to get a job done when they are out on a mission.”
And that’s what the Cohen Veterans Network is doing right here in Philadelphia. One of only five clinics of its kind across the United States, The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Penn is part of the CVN’s national efforts to provide access to free, evidence-based, customized outpatient care to treat a variety of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, PTSD, adjustment issue, anger, grief and loss, family issues, and children’s behavioral problems. In addition to mental health services, the clinic also offers referral support related to unemployment, housing, finance, and education, and provides resources such as transportation assistance to its patients.
And their services aren’t limited just to veterans; family members are also able to access treatment, free of charge, even if the veteran isn’t engaged in care.
“I don’t know what life would look like for me and my family if I didn’t get help,” White said. “It’s time to stop looking at statistics. It’s time to de-stigmatize the idea that because our wounds are invisible, they’re somehow less significant than a physical one.”
Today, White lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife. In addition to his work with the Cohen Veterans Network, White is also an investment analyst. You can read White’s full story here.