I participated in a film Sophi Rutherford produced on mental health issues for veterans. She showcased Nikki Smith, Tom Heslam, and Luke Stricevic, veterans that shared their struggles. I’m a veteran also and shared some mental training perspectives. 

Tom shared that mental health is just as important, or even more so, than physical health. You can take care of the body, but if you don’t take care of the mind, then the body is useless. He realized he had a deep-seated problem when nothing was wrong and he still felt sad. He reached out for help. 

Nikki shared the importance of showing up to be seen, reaching out to others for support, and looking inward to get to know yourself better. She talked about the importance of self love. 

Luke shared the difficulty of understanding his identity as he separated from the Marine Corp. Climbing helped him create a new identity that diminished his negative war experiences. He decided to help other veterans through climbing. That led to starting Crux Wilderness, a therapy program for veterans.

Here are some questions the film reveals: 

• Do we use climbing as a way to escape the stressors of life? 
• How do we take responsibility for our mental health?
• What tools do we have to begin and continue the process of doing mental health work? 
• Why do we wait to take care of our mental health issues? 

Here’s the link for the Sand to Stone film: SophiRutherford.com

If you’re a veteran, struggle with suicidal thoughts and need help, you can chat online, call, or text to reach support services. Go to the Veteran Crisis Line.