Ep 11: Battling Shame & Mental Health Stigmas with Darcy Rideout

Untold Valor: Veterans Recovery in Action

On episode eleven of Untold Valor, we sit down with Darcy Rideout, a courageous veteran and mental health advocate who shares her powerful and emotional journey with depression. Darcy discusses the impact of military culture on mental health and the stigma that often surrounds it. She openly reveals her personal struggles, including her experience with feeling shamed by leadership and her attempt to end her life.
But Darcy's story is also one of hope and resilience. She shares how she found the strength to reach out for help, and the transformative mental and behavioral health care she received that changed her life. By making herself the mission, Darcy has become a passionate advocate for breaking the stigma around mental health in the military community.
Listen to this inspiring and eye-opening episode to learn how open conversations and sharing stories like Darcy's can make a real difference in the lives of veterans and their families.
Highlights of this episode:

• 5:40 – Why Darcy experienced shame after becoming a mother and trying to still excel as a soldier.
• 9:10 – “The best way to get ahead of this… is to get ahead of it.” Darcy speaks about the stigma surrounding mental health is a real challenge for veterans and service members alike.
• 11:00 – How do you realize you need to transition or make changes in your life? “I had to hit my ultimate low.”
• 15:36 - Making yourself the mission and prioritizing your own well-being is key in the transition from military to civilian life.

More About Darcel (Darcy) Rideout:
Darcel A. Rideout is an 11-year PA Army National Guard veteran, small business owner, mental health advocate and board member of the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at the University of Pennsylvania. Darcel joined the PA Army National Guard at the age of 17. Darcel owns a graphic t-shirt company and is pursuing a psychology degree at Widener University with plans of becoming a Clinical Psychologist.
Darcel has been awarded two Army Achievement medals during service. Following a series of traumatic experiences during her last years of service in the Army National Guard, Darcel was diagnosed with PTSD, Depression and Anxiety. Fortunately, Darcel received no-cost Behavioral and Mental health care through the Cohen’s Veteran Network, which she credits with changing her life.
Now Darcel is an advisory board member at the Cohen Military Family Clinic as a Veteran Advocate. Since overcoming her challenges with mental health, Darcel has publicly shared her experiences in efforts to reach others in the veteran community, active-duty service members and anyone in the public who is struggling with mental health.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 2022 National Suicide Prevention Annual Report: https://bit.ly/3Gg19hJ
Cohen Military Family Clinic: https://bit.ly/2s8LUQY
Resources:

Need immediate help? Contact the Veterans Crisis Line via phone, text, or online chat. Dial 988 then Press 1 or text 838255 or use the online chat at https://bit.ly/3OunXzg

Voice & Vision: https://bit.ly/3miwFoy

CompeerCORPS: https://bit.ly/3GgKryU

Information on how to apply for VA Healthcare Benefits from anywhere in the USA: https://bit.ly/40PtrrN or call 877-222-8387 (M-F 8am-8pm EST)

To apply for veteran’s benefits and find resources in Pennsylvania veterans need to contact their County Office of Veterans Affairs as listed in this document: https://bit.ly/3m8PBWS

View more about PA’s resources for veterans: https://bit.ly/416cf0Q