Although their numbers are growing faster than any other military group, female service members and veterans face challenges that are unique compared to their male counterparts. According to the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), nearly 45 percent of its female members say they have experienced sexual trauma while serving in the military. In addition, women who have served in the military report mental health issues at higher rates than men.
Fortunately, through the WWP’s Women Warriors Initiative, female service members can connect with other warriors and get the help they need. One woman who has benefited from WWP’s services is Army veteran Rochelle Cooper.
Rochelle joined the Army Reserves in high school before being deployed to the Middle East in her junior year of college. There, working as a member of a public health team, she took part in a firefight after her team was ambushed.
While she didn’t sustain any physical injuries, the firefight—combined with the constant stress of having to serve in a combat zone—left her with mental health issues. When she returned home, she tried to keep the trauma at bay by keeping busy with her job, her education, and raising her children. Still, the unhealed trauma eventually reared its head, and she experienced what she calls “a nervous breakdown.”
Rochelle first turned to the VA, where she was diagnosed with depression. She then found her way to WWP. It was through the organization that she connected with a Peer Support Group, an experience she says was life-changing. Rather than continuing to ignore her mental health wellbeing, she welcomingly found herself in the company of people who understood what she was going through.
Rochelle reports that members of the support group have become like family, with some even traveling hours to attend her PhD graduation ceremony. Today, she encourages other veterans—especially women—not to hide their feelings. She instead advises them to prioritize their wellbeing by getting the support they need through organizations like WWP.
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