The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has founded a national suicide prevention hotline to ensure veterans in emotional crisis have free, 24/7 access to trained counselors. To operate the Veterans Hotline, the VA partnered with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Veterans can call the Lifeline number, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), and press "1" to be routed to the Veterans Hotline.
Combat Stress/Reintegration Resources: Helplines, Places to Turn, Free Military Family Counseling and Veteran Retreats, PTSD Information
How are you doing?
Are you looking for some help for yourself or a loved one? If so, you've found the right place to get started.
There are so many groups and individuals willing to listen to your problems or concerns, offer guidance, treat you to a free reintegration retreat or even come to your aid if you're really struggling with an difficult issue -- homelessness, suicidal thoughts as a result of your combat stress, or fear for the safety of your or your family members.
If the situation is tough, or just a momentary stumper like having trouble with understanding your military benefits, someone is out there for you. Click here for a list of resources.
If you ever feel less than empowered, if you ever wonder if members of society can actively play a role in shaping how its returning veterans are treated beyond the accolades given at welcome home parades and Veterans Day potlucks, look no further than the citizens of California for one shining example of how its done.
Corté's article introduced us to a former West Point graduate who served in Bosnia and Honduras who was arrested and facing a possible 12-year stint in jail for holding up two pharmacies to feed his painkiller addiction, the same medication the VA prescribed -- over 15 times -- for injuries suffered while the former Army Ranger was based in Honduras.
Civilian doctors had also diagnosed PTSD.
His watershed case has gone to trial and the verdict was delivered yesterday. [ABC-San Francisco news report is now available online; KTVU news report up, which includes interviews with his parents.] Full details in extended.
While a wide variety of events can trigger what's called post-traumatic stress disorder, this PTSD blog focuses solely on the combat-related variety. As a new generation of vets returns to civilian life and seeks out resources, PTSD Combat is here to help.
The first study of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder conducted with active duty military personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq.
What is PTSD?
(Post traumatic Stress Disorder)
A National Center for PTSD Fact Sheet
Post traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape. People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged, and these symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the person's daily life.
PTSD is marked by clear biological changes as well as psychological symptoms. PTSD is complicated by the fact that it frequently occurs in conjunction with related disorders such as depression, substance abuse, problems of memory and cognition, and other problems of physical and mental health. The disorder is also associated with impairment of the person's ability to function in social or family life, including occupational instability, marital problems and divorces, family discord, and difficulties in parenting.
For more detailed information and resources about the National Center for PTSD, click on the logo below:
This is a troubling but valuable PBS presentation on PTSD. This program is essential viewing for homecoming family preparedness. Hopefully your homecoming Veteran will be one of the majority who will experience a healthy transition to a normal and productive life after their initial homecoming. However, hoping this will be so is not advised. Be educated and be prepared in case you see or experience troubling clues that may lead to more serious problems.
Historical and recent research indicates the majority of all Veterans (approximately 75 - 85%) who are exposed to actual combat and combat environments return from deployment and transition into civilian life very productively. Certainly there is a decompression and reintegration process that is a unique experience for each Veteran but most move through and beyond this re-socialization phase with a true sense of meaning and purpose for their lives. For most Veterans, their military experiences greatly serve both themselves and the communities they live in. The leadership and team building experiences learned in military life directly translate into benefits for our society and for our nations civilian employers.
What we as a society must focus on are the 15-25% of returning Veterans who are suffering from the effects of their experiences of combat. Unfortunately, research indicates that up-wards of 60% of these Veterans suffering from PTSD will not seek help. The reasons for this may not be surprising; fear of stigmatization by peers and superiors is a significant concern along with the indoctrination and mindset that is developed through military training. We must also consider the code and values one must embody to successfully function in the military, "The Few, The Proud, The Marines", " Army Of One", "Adapt, Overcome and Improvise", there is nothing in this instilled sense of self reliance that tells someone it's OK to seek help. Although our military is beginning to develop programs and allocating resources to address these issues, family support, education and awareness are key to understanding the needs of our homecoming Veterans.
This is our opportunity as a nation to "Get it right" this time as our family members return home from deployment and military service.
This is a very informative article that unfortunately builds a strong case of the need for the Veterans and Families Homecoming Initiative.
My HealtheVet (MHV) is the gateway to veteran health benefits and services. It provides access to trusted health information, links to Federal and VA benefits and resources, the Personal Health Journal, and now online VA prescription refill. In the future, MHV registrants will be able to view appointments, copay balances, and key portions of their VA medical records online, and much more! My HealtheVet is a powerful tool to help you better understand and manage your health.
Invisible Wounds: Serving Service Members and Veterans with PTSD and TBI
