The apparatus of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the National Defence University of Ukraine hosted a lecture by retired US Army Maj. Gen. Gregg Forrest Martin on “How to Defeat the Stigma of Mental Health in the Army and Society”.

General Martin, an Iraq War veteran and author of the Bipolar General book, talked about the stages of his life and his own experience in overcoming the problem. He also offered recommendations on how to tackle the stigmatization of mental health within the army and society.

“It's crucial for military leadership addressing medical concerns to pay more attention to mental well-being. At the end of the day, mental well-being is as crucial as physical health. For this reason, it is important to oversee the mental health of military personnel and ensure they receive adequate training in this aspect. Another important point is the open discussion of the issue and the fight against social stigmatization of people with problems,” he said.

Deputy Defence Minister Nataliia Kalmykova emphasized that today, the level of psychological burden of service members during the war is enormous.

“Mental resilience should not be viewed solely as an issue affecting individuals; rather, it pertains to the overall well-being and progress of the entire nation. Ultimately, individuals facing challenges with fellow community members affect various groups such as families, employees, and so on through ongoing interactions. That is why it is extremely important to monitor the psychological condition of the service members and eliminate the problems promptly using modern methods. The well-being of all Ukrainians is at stake, both during the war and after it is over. Hence, we need to integrate the top-notch experiences in this area and implement the best practices,” she said.