How do we best
honor veterans? By assisting in meeting
their basic living needs. Countless veterans now lead productive, successful,
healthy lives yet there are several issues facing our veterans that
remain at the forefront requiring ongoing urgent attention. Those issues include housing, job placement,
timely healthcare, and mental health care.
The results of war have ravaged the minds and bodies of many service members,
making the need for health care of utmost importance.
The increased critical need for mental health care and the shortage of mental health providers is a great concern. However, there are many resources available through the VA and through outside sources. A few of those resources include:
The increased critical need for mental health care and the shortage of mental health providers is a great concern. However, there are many resources available through the VA and through outside sources. A few of those resources include:
- NAMI: Veterans &
Military Resource Center http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Veterans_Resources&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=53242&lstid=877
- SAMSHA: Veterans
and Military Families http://www.samhsa.gov/veterans-military-families
- Benefits.gov Mental
Health Services http://www.benefits.gov/benefits/benefit-details/4747
These and other resources are available and necessary
because statistics show that the suicide rate among veterans has seen a major
increase. The unemployment rate among
veterans is higher than that of civilians.
Many service members returning from war suffer from traumatic brain
injury and post traumatic stress disorder as well as depression.
The key to honoring and helping our veterans is giving them the opportunity for early and proper diagnosis and then providing the needed service to the veterans and their families. To accomplish this there is also a need for more trained mental health professionals.
A step towards successful diagnosis and treatment is
reducing and eliminating the stigma associated with receiving mental health
services. This stigma of embarrassment, of fear, and of disappointing
family, friends, and comrades is a major barrier for veterans in need of mental
health care.
If you can offer
a helping hand, please do. There is
hope.
You are
encouraged to pause and reflect on the thousands of service men and women who
have served and sacrificed on behalf of America. Each service member deserves our gratitude
and recognition for service.
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To my family members that served, my father, my sister, my brother, my husband…thank you for your service. I too am proud to have served.
Thank you to
every Veteran. God bless and keep
you.
SharB~TTSD
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown
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