Maj. Gen. Mark Graham, former director of the G3/5/7 at U.S. Army Forces Command, and his wife, Carol, shared their story of tragic personal loss as guest speakers advocating for increased mental health and suicide prevention awareness with soldiers at Fort Lee, Va., May 14, 2013.

Soldiers are learning how to recognize signs of depression through Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training.

The Defense, Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services departments yesterday reported on the progress they’ve made on initiatives to improve access to mental health services for veterans, service members and their families.

Since being discharged as a disabled veteran from the military in 1995, Lori, who asked that her last name not be used, has tried a variety of therapy programs to help her overcome the challenges associated with no longer being in service.

The Corpus Christi Army Depot deployed a new program aimed at helping veterans overcome the challenges of post-traumatic stress disorder.

More than 40 people ran a 3-mile ‘Run as One’ race at Ann Arbor’s Veteran’s Association Hospital on Saturday in commemoration of veterans who have lost the battle against PTSD or depression.

Retired Army Col. Elspeth Cameron Ritchie, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer for the District of Columbia Department of Mental Health, discusses the military track at the 2013 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting.

They fight for our country, but the price they pay for protecting our freedoms is sometimes their peace of mind.

Lt. Col. Shaye Molendyke has seen the mental health effects of war up close and personal. She worked the psychiatric ward at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, and daily, she saw the invisible effects of war on troops.

National Mental Health Awareness month began in the late 1940’s to raise awareness of illnesses such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.