According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, about 6% of people have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But PTSD affects more than military members and veterans. Just one event can have a lifetime impact on a person’s overall wellbeing and their capacity to cope. PTSD can occur in any person who experiences a traumatic … Read more
Anthony Campbell admits he used to be a “yeller.” Whether it was the way he was raised or his military background that instilled the behavior — probably a bit of both, he said — taking a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course helped him realize there were other effective ways to communicate. “I used to … Read more
This Veterans Day, it is important to remember that not every service member experiences Veterans Day in the same way. In fact, some prior service members may not consider themselves veterans at all. This is especially common for service members who have not had combat experience or may not have seen “action” when serving in … Read more
Throughout my Army career, I carried a piece of paper folded in the breast pocket of my uniform with a list of the names of the 35 soldiers killed in my brigade during my first deployment to Iraq. I carried it as a reminder of the sacrifice that these men and women made for our … Read more
“Prior to deployment, service men and women are trained in basic first aid so that we are equipped to address the physical wounds of battle. When the shooting stops, different challenges begin for many of us. We live with the emotional wounds of war,” said Tousha Paxton-Barnes. Tousha was deployed to Afghanistan with the Army’s … Read more
“So many men and women who served our country did so much more than me and were in so much more danger than I was on my four-month tour. I can’t have PTSD, I told myself, because I didn’t earn it,” said Jason Kander. Jason enlisted in the Army National Guard after 9/11 and volunteered … Read more
Peer pressure in schools. Stress in the workplace. Negative memories you can’t let go of. Everyone faces personal challenges and their own journey to recovery. One of the things that makes Mental Health First Aid unique is tailored courses that meet the needs of specific populations. Whether you are a young adult in school, public … Read more
Men and women in the military are trained to protect themselves, their comrades and our country. In combat zones, service members live in a constant state of hyper-arousal, also known as “fight or flight.” There is no time for them to process or work through their experiences while deployed, let alone time to recover as … Read more
When I was a child, I lost my grandfather, a WWII veteran, to suicide and my dad, a Vietnam veteran, to a substance use disorder. But our family was silent because of the stigma and shame surrounding it. As a nurse I have treated more people with PTSD, substance use disorders and following suicide attempts … Read more
Why do so many veterans die by suicide? Thomas Ricks is a contributing editor of Foreign Policy magazine, he reported on U.S. military activities in war-torn countries around the world, he is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and has written five books on the military and national security issues. And he doesn’t have the answer … Read more
It is estimated that there are 19.6 million veterans living in the U. S. While military service can increase resilience in those who serve and build strength in their families, some experience mental health issues that require support and treatment. The statistics surrounding veteran mental health and substance-use are troubling: — Veteran suicide rates remain … Read more
Think that rural communities don’t face mental health challenges? Nothing could be further from the truth. Maybe it’s because we are small, unseen and misunderstood that people are unaware of the issues we face, or needs we have. But they’re similar to – or even the same as – those faced by every other community in America. … Read more
The idea that military-connected individuals and civilians cannot understand one another, often referred to as the civilian-military divide, is one of the most prominent barriers to care for veterans and military members seeking mental health and addiction treatment. So how can I, a civilian psychologist, help and connect with someone who has devoted so much … Read more
I am a veteran. When I returned home to Amarillo, Texas after being deployed to Afghanistan with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, I was ready for a fresh start. Instead, I struggled with unemployment as symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder set in. Prior to deployment, service men and women are trained in … Read more
November 11 is Veterans Day, so we’re focusing on veteran and military mental health for the entire month of November. 20 veterans die by suicide each day. 30 percent of active duty and reserve military personnel deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan have a mental health problem requiring treatment, yet only half of those people in … Read more
Female veterans are two to five times more likely to commit suicide than civilian women. NPR host David Green spoke with women dedicating their lives to curb this number. They have heard the stories first-hand from women who have served their country and experienced the hardships involved in transitioning from working combat to civilian life … Read more
Mental Health First Aid for Veterans is an eight-hour course that teaches about the unique challenges faced by members of the military, how to identify common mental health problems and how to direct people to appropriate supports in their communities. Just a few days after Rick Denton took the course, he saved the life of … Read more
As a Mental Health First Aid for Veterans instructor, I have trained 900 First Aiders, including veterans, law enforcement, pastors, educators and community members. I have seen firsthand the impact this training can have on strengthening communities and providing sometimes life-saving support for the thousands of veterans, service members and their families who may need … Read more
The group helped fund Mental Health First Aid, a program that trains veterans and first responders on how to interact with someone suffering from mental health issues, which has now been adopted in the U.S. Read more.
GE is donating $3,000 to Mental Health America of Roanoke Valley (MHARV) to support educational programs focused on teen and veteran suicide prevention. 07/16/2015 Link to Source
With Independence Day upon us, learn some ways you can help support those who have served our country. 1) Put it in context Although the prevalence of PTSD is higher among returning veterans than in the general population, the vast majority of service members will return without the disorder. 2) Be sensitive to signs and … Read more
With Independence Day upon us, learn some ways you can help support those who have served our country. 1) Put it in context Although the prevalence of PTSD is higher among returning veterans than in the general population, the vast majority of service members will return without the disorder. 2) Be sensitive to signs and … Read more
With Independence Day upon us, learn some ways you can help support those who have served our country. 1) Put it in context Although the prevalence of PTSD is higher among returning veterans than in the general population, the vast majority of service members will return without the disorder. 2) Be sensitive to signs and … Read more
Mental health is a concern among veterans of war. Studies have found veterans are much more likely to commit suicide than civilians. 05/26/2015 Link to Source
President Obama’s recently proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Budget provides the nation with an unprecedented opportunity to address America’s urgent behavioral health needs. About 1 in 5 Americans experiences a mental illness every year, yet many struggle to access treatment and services. The FY 2016 Budget proposes improvements to the mental health system by expanding … Read more
The Long Island Community Foundation is giving $465,800 to 23 nonprofit groups that provide mental health services for veterans and recently arrived immigrant children, promote community support for affordable rental home options, build nonprofit resiliency and training for disaster preparedness, help the Island’s hungry, and so much more. 11/26/2014 Link to Source
…in response to the findings of the Auditor General’s report, I am pleased to launch the Veterans Affairs Mental Health Services for Veterans Action Plan, which spells out exactly what my department will do to improve how we deliver benefits and programs to Canadian Veterans. This action plan, supported by our $200 million investment, will further improve an … Read more
The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and M.P. for Levis, Bellechasse and Les Etchemins today highlighted the commitment taken by his colleagues the Honourable Julian Fantino, M.P. for Vaughan and Minister of Veterans Affairs, and the Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls and Minister of National Defence, … Read more
The Honourable Julian Fantino, M.P. for Vaughan and Minister of Veterans Affairs, and the Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls and Minister of National Defence, today announced new and expanded mental health initiatives for Veterans, serving military members, and their families. Once implemented, the strategy will strengthen Canada’s world class treatment, care … Read more
A new program in Yulee is tackling an illness that claims the life of 22 veterans per day, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The launch of the Mental Health First Aid class comes at a delicate time for a community that recently had a murder-suicide by a veteran. Link to Source
If you saw a service member or veteran struggling with substance abuse, post-traumatic stress or depression, would you know how to encourage them to get help? A new program aims to teach educators, law enforcement officials and community workers to recognize the signs of mental illness and understand how to spur those affected to seek … Read more
A push for new funding — and the use of existing funds — may soon make more resources available to help identify vets who need help with depression or other mental illness through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s “Mental Health First Aid training.”
The National Council, along with leaders from veterans service organizations and fellow mental health advocates, today launched a new training program – Mental Health First Aid for Veterans – that offers participants a simple, proven combination of information and techniques to recognize and respond to the warning signs of mental illness and addiction.
Innovative Program Offers Proven Techniques to Recognize and Respond to Mental Illness and Addiction Contact: Heather Cobb at 202-684-7457 x277 heatherc@thenationalcouncil.org WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Council for Mental Wellbeing (National Council), along with leaders from veterans service organizations and fellow mental health advocates, today launched a new training program – Mental Health First Aid … Read more
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing will launch Mental Health First Aid for Veterans with leaders from veteran service organizations and fellow mental health leaders. Mental Health First Aid for Veterans builds on the evidence-based training program for educators, community leaders, law enforcement and public safety officials. Link to Source
Today on CNN’s State of the Union with Candy Crowley, Sen. John Walsh (D-MT), the first Iraq War combat veteran to serve in the United States Senate, and Tom Tarantino, Chief Policy Officer at IAVA and former Army officer, spoke to CNN about veteran suicides, the cost of war, and Walsh’s bill, the Suicide Prevention Act for American Veterans. … Read more
To strengthen mental health efforts for veterans, the bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish an education and support program to educate and train family members and caregivers of veterans on different mental health disorders. This would help family members identify triggers and risk factors related to possible mental health issues. In … Read more
Jeannie Campbell, Master Chief Petty Officer, ret. serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Ms. Campbell leads national civilian initiatives to improve community-based mental health and substance use treatment for veterans and pioneered the Veterans Behavioral Health Certificate, designed to train civilian healthcare … Read more
