Echoes of Hope: Breaking the Silence on Military Mental Health

In a stirring interview on The Rashad Richey Morning Show , Campaign Lead of Combat The Silence Kali Hoffman , sheds light on the critical mission of the Blue Star Families Combat the Silence campaign .

Blue Star Families, an organization dedicated to supporting military families during transitions and deployments, has embarked on a new initiative in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Combat the Silence campaign aims to combat the alarming rates of military suicide by empowering families and communities with the tools to recognize and intervene in mental health crises.

Mrs. Hoffman articulates the campaign's core message, drawing from her own experiences as both a military spouse and a first responder, she emphasized the importance of breaking the silence surrounding mental health issues within the military community.

Mrs. Hoffman's journey is deeply intertwined with the cause she champions. As the spouse of a decorated Marine veteran, she has witnessed firsthand the toll that military service can take on mental well-being. Her experiences as a first responder further underscored the urgent need for mental health support within military communities.

Central to Blue Star Families' mission is the destigmatization of mental health issues within the military community. Despite increased awareness efforts in recent years, Mrs. Hoffman acknowledges that stigma remains a significant barrier to seeking help. "We are still very much in a macho culture where our warriors do not feel comfortable saying that they feel less than competent," she observes.

To listen to the full interview, click the link above.

Dr. Rashad Richey, host of the award-winning ‘Rashad Richey Morning Show’ on News & Talk 1380 – WAOK/V-103FM (HD3) (Weekdays 7am -10am), and the ‘Dr. Rashad Richey Review’ on SiriusXM’s Urban View (Sundays at 1pm and 9pm), was voted 'Best Talk Radio Personality in Atlanta' by readers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and named 'Most Trusted Voice in Atlanta' by the Atlanta Business Journal, making him the first African-American to receive these distinctions.

The intelligent and fearless television news anchor for the opinion news show, 'Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey’ on the TYT Network, which was named 'fastest growing TV news show in America', and Political Commentator for The People's Station V-103 FM, America's largest urban station, also serves as President of Rolling Out, the largest free-print urban publication in the country. This multimedia powerhouse with over 3-million combined subscribers/followers on Facebook Watch, YouTube, Podcasts, and Twitch combined, is a noted multidisciplinary academic scholar and university professor/lecturer and an Emmy-nominated television Political Analyst for CBS News Atlanta.

Believing in the power of knowledge and education, Dr. Richey holds several advanced degrees, making him one of the most academically credentialed individuals in American history according to America News Now. Completing doctoral research studies in federal policy reform from Clark Atlanta University, Dr. Richey also holds a PhD from the Business University of Costa Rica where his research and doctoral dissertation highlighted the nuances and intersectionality of politics, policy and religion.

Being a student of leadership, Dr. Richey completed studies in Executive Leadership at Cornell University and was accepted into a specialty executive law program at Harvard University in International Finance: Policy, Regulation, and Transactions. Understanding the connectivity of culture and science, Dr. Richey earned his Master of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Pacific, where his master’s thesis researched cognitive functionalities of brain entrainment. Dr. Richey also completed a Master of Science in Applied Physics and Quantum Mechanics from Universidad Empresarial, his master’s thesis was adapted into a book titled, ‘Ancient Egyptian Mastery of Quantum Physics, Vibratory Frequency, and Geometric Sciences: An Overview of Complex Scientific Applications in Ancient Cultures’, which quickly became the #1 Physics, #1 Science, #1 History, and #1 Egyptian Genre book on the Amazon platform.

Recently, Dr. Richey completed his Juris Doctor (law degree) from Renaissance University after transferring from Birmingham School of Law, where he attended for 2 years. He accepted the position as Director of Global Legal Operations for the multinational law firm, The International Law Group of Human & Civil Rights Attorneys P.C., also known as The Fairness Firm, with offices in the USA, Canada, France, Spain, and Cape Town Africa.

As host of The Rashad Richey Morning Show, Dr. Richey has interviewed everyone from Vice-President Kamala Harris to TI, and always brings relevant information, the best on-air debates, and most insightful interviews in media. Tune in every weekday morning from 7am-10am on News and Talk 1380-WAOK, V-103FM (HD3), www.WAOK.com , or on the Audacy App.