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If I can get better, the hope is that anybody who wants to, can.

 

Learn more about PTSD from Jeffrey Jones and other Veterans who’ve been there: http://www.ptsd.va.gov/AboutFace

Transcript

What do I believe that
will help the stigma

in the black community as
far as mental illness goes,

I believe, yes, that they'll...

We have to have somebody
who's been there, done that,

got the t-shirt, and
wearing it with it tucked in

and acting like they got some sense now.

So we have to see a finish.

We have to see a product.

We have to see somebody
actually that's living it.

And when we see somebody living it,

then we are more apt to buy into it.

So those who are in the black community,

went out and got help have to return back

to the community and educate and say,

"Look, I was that person.

I was that person you see

at the gas station pumping
gas every day trying

to support his habit to drink and drug.

I'm that person that you
saw walking down the street

talking to himself looking up at the sky.

I'm that person."

And if I can get better,
the hope is that anybody

who wants to can.

But I have to go back to the community

because in the black community,

we really view mental
illness as a bad thing.

And you're defective, there's
something wrong with you.

And it's really nothing wrong with you,

it's just that you have something

that you need help living with.

There's nothing wrong
with you, you're not bad.

And so we have to go and
cancel out all of those things.

It's a lot of work to do, a lot.

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