Active-duty soldiers and veterans struggling to live up to the “hero” persona are coming forward to urge others to seek the help they need.
One soldier stepping forward is Adam Moore. He began his service as a teenager, not even old enough to drink.
“I started my career as a reservist, hurt my left knee while I was a reservist. Didn’t get any help, but I was still a minor,” Moore said.
He would, after six years in the reserves, join the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) armoured unit. He says this was not a move that benefited his mental health.
During his service, his injuries held him back and he struggled with the perception of being a hero, when he felt others were more deserving of the title.
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“I didn’t do anything really special in my career. I did fires, floods, just typical stuff,” Moore said.
“So, it felt like maybe …