 Hi shipmates. This is Acting Secretary of the Navy, Tom Harker. I recently put out a video encouraging our sailors and marines to break the silence on mental health. I asked those who've had a positive experience with mental health counseling to tell their story so others can see that there is nothing to fear and a lot to gain from speaking up. So today, I'm going to start with my own story. There were three times in my life that I've sat down and spoken with a mental health professional. Once was when my parents got a divorce. Another was during my own divorce. I know many of you have gone through similar experiences in your lives and I can tell you firsthand it helps to talk with a psychologist to remember the clergy. I've done both. The third time was connected to my service in uniform. It was February of 1993. I was serving on board Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless when the Haitian ferry vessel Neptune capsized with nearly 2,000 people on board. What began as a rescue operation soon became one of recovery. Over the course of the 36 to 48 hours after the ferry boat sank, we took on board the bodies of over 80 drowned men, women and children. After an experience like that, no one wanted to talk to mental health professionals. We just wanted to go home. But I'll always be grateful that the Coast Guard made sure we received counseling. They flew psychologists, psychiatrists and clergy down to Guantanamo Bay, gave us the opportunity to process what we had seen and talk about it. It was the most important port call I've ever had. And I'm convinced it continues to help me to this day. In the course of your service, you may see and experience things most Americans won't even think about. That's what you volunteered to do and I thank you. But don't shove those experiences away. Reach out. Talk to somebody. We have mental health professionals, chaplains, counselors and others available and ready to listen. So let's keep the conversation going. Look out for yourselves and your shipmates. And if, like me, you've benefited from counseling in the course of your life or service, please consider telling your story as well. Thank you.