One man’s mission to change the way we look at mental health
Even though he was physically wounded during combat in Vietnam, his real pain didn’t begin until he came back to a society that had turned its back on him.
It would take years for Frank to come to terms with his past, and understand how to move forward with PTSD.
The History of PTSD
Frank was one of the first Veterans to be officially diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. For years prior, his doctors called it “war fatigue,” “shell shock” or “depressive neurosis.” Frank’s story mirrors the evolution of PTSD in our nation’s history as he, like many others, struggled for so long to understand the changes that his mind and body were going through. As the study of PTSD progressed, so did Frank’s understanding of his illness and how to live with it.
A Closet Artist
Although Frank had never painted before, he discovered it was the perfect outlet for some of the emotions that he was holding inside. When his artwork was recognized by the National Veterans Art Museum, Frank began traveling the world looking for more veterans to share their artwork and stories with the world.
Back to Vietnam
In order to fully understand his own mental illness, Frank decided to go back to South East Asia and study post trauma from the point of view of the former enemy. Frank learned that while he was stuck in place, an entire country had moved on. He documented his journey through Vietnam and created a high school lesson plan that students in America followed online. This was the inspiration for his current education program “The Experience of the American Soldier".
A Walk Across New York State
To celebrate his 70th birthday, Frank decided to walk across New York State in order to raise attention for his programs and mental health awareness. Braving the weather and his past injuries, Frank walked in solidarity for all people suffering from mental illness who are unable to take that first step.
“We’re gonna get there. How we get there is all individual…everybody has their journey”
— Frank Romeo