What Military Families Should Know About Depression

Depression is one of the most common and treatable mental disorders.

Service members and their families experience unique emotional challenges. Deployment and redeployment, single parenting and long absences of loved ones are a stressful part of military life. At times, these events can lead to sadness, feelings of hopelessness, and withdrawal from friends, families, and colleagues. Parenting can feel more a burden than a joy. We may feel irritable and even neglectful of our children’s needs. When these feelings and behaviors appear, depression may be present. Seeking care for depression, for ourselves or loved ones, takes energy and courage.