Pasha Palankar – Army

Pasha is a medically-retired 17 year Army veteran. He has lost more friends to suicide than to combat, and he himself struggles with chronic PTSD and TBI. He underwent every treatment for these conditions available to active duty service members — but driven by isolation due to COVID-19 in 2020, Pasha was suicidal and checked himself into the ER on Walter Reed, where he was admitted to a psychiatric ward. Pasha has been in a steady state of recovery post-hospitalization and is currently focused on helping others who are struggling in silence. He is speaking out about his trials in hopes of reaching those suffering in silence.

“When I just feel like I need to talk to somebody but can’t find somebody to relate to, I just write it down on paper– and that takes the burden off of me.”