(Glamour)
Michelle Obama, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kerry Washington appear on the new Glamour cover, teaming up to speak out on issues affecting military families, servicewomen and female military veterans. The trio especially hope to bring more attention to the hardships faced by those who have served America abroad and have problems readjusting to life at home.
“One thing I want to clarify — that every service member, veteran, wants us to remember — is that the vast majority of people returning from service come back completely healthy,” Obama tells the magazine. “But when we do come across someone who is struggling… we have to develop a culture of open arms and acceptance so that they feel comfortable saying, ‘I’m a veteran. And by the way, I need little help.'” She adds, “This is something we need to do in this country around mental health as a whole — destigmatizing mental health.”
Washington explains that she’s been open about her own therapy for exactly that reason. The actress tells the magazine, “I say that publicly because I think it’s really important to take the stigma away from mental health…. My brain and my heart are really important to me. I don’t know why I wouldn’t seek help to have those things be as healthy as my teeth. I go to the dentist. So why wouldn’t I go to a shrink?”
As for Parker, she notes, “It’s important that when [veterans] go to meet a potential employer, this person knows they are capable. And that any issues they have are the same ones any of us might have — whether we lose a family member or have a period of sadness.”
She continues, “We want to talk about the public health challenges. But we also don’t want to put so much focus on these issues that veterans seem like they are made of glass. You don’t want to meet them and you’re like, ‘Are you OK?'” What do you think about what Obama, Parker and Washington have to say?
