DCoE Blog

• Marine Cyclist Recovers by ‘Following Doctor’s Advice’

  Posted by DCoE Public Affairs from the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center on March 2, 2016

  

  In honor of Brain Injury Awareness Month, we are featuring the stories of people who sustained brain injuries and recovered. In this post from A Head for the Future, Maj. Eve Baker was injured when a car hit her while biking to work. A video about Eve Baker’s brain injury experience is available on YouTube.

  In 2005, a car struck Marine reservist Maj. Eve Baker head-on while she was biking to work in Honolulu. She flew face-first into the windshield, shattering her helmet — which likely saved her life. Eve was immediately taken to the hospital and spent three days in intensive care.

  Categories: Women, Traumatic Brain Injury, Community Support, A Head for the Future   |   Comments (0)

• Post Your Selfie to Promote Brain Injury Awareness Month

  Posted by Robyn Mincher, DVBIC Public Affairs on March 1, 2016

  

  Here’s a new way to support our military community and promote safety during Brain Injury Awareness Month in March: Snap a selfie!

  A Head for the Future, the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) traumatic brain injury (TBI) awareness initiative, launched the #ThinkAhead hashtag card campaign across its Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as on the DVBIC page on Facebook. We urge military communities to spread the word: be safe, know the signs and get help if you think you sustained a TBI.

  Categories: Traumatic Brain Injury, Personal Stories, Community Support, A Head for the Future   |   Comments (0)

• National Salute to Veterans Week: Share Appreciation on Social Media

  Posted by Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center on February 17, 2016

  

  In the eyes of our military community, a simple “thank you” goes a long way. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) kicks off their annual National Salute to Veteran Patients during the week of February 14, offering you an opportunity to honor our nation’s heroes. The week recognizes the more than 98,000 veterans of the U.S. armed services that are cared for every day in VA medical centers, outpatient clinics, residences and nursing homes. The goals of the program are to:

  • Pay tribute and expresses appreciation to veterans
  • Increase community awareness of the role of VA medical centers
  • Encourage citizens to visit hospitalized veterans
  • Ask citizens to get involved as volunteers

  Categories: Traumatic Brain Injury, Community Support   |   Comments (2)

• Disabled Veterans Use Baking to Work through PTSD Symptoms

  Posted by DCoE Public Affairs from Shannon Collins, Defense Media Activity on January 6, 2016

  Service members are discovering unique ways to cope with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), including practicing mindfulness meditation, competing in a new sport, and working with a service dog. This story, originally posted as a news feature on the Department of Defense website, describes how learning a new craft — baking — is helping some service members cope with health challenges.

  Smiles and the smells of freshly baked bread, cakes and cookies greet visitors of Dog Tag Bakery in Georgetown, a place where disabled veterans can learn more than just baking.

  Disabled veterans, their spouses and caregivers can participate in a work-study fellowship that will help them as they transition from the military to the civilian workforce, said Kyle Burns, senior program director for the fellowship program at Dog Tag Bakery.

  Categories: Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, Community Support, DCoE, Treatment   |   Comments (0)

• How to Tell Family Members about Mental Health Concerns

  Posted by Carol Roos, DCoE Public Affairs on November 30, 2015

  Were you recently diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, substance use disorder or another mental health concern? Talking to loved ones about your mental health may seem difficult. However, we’ve found that family members can be your best support!

  Military members are trained to work with others to thrive and accomplish the mission. This concept works for service members off duty too. Outside the military, family members and friends are your support system, and you are part of theirs. Speaking to them about your psychological health challenges and needs may alleviate frustrations and manage expectations.

  One way to approach the subject with them is to think about mental health as you would think about physical health and disclose any challenges in a similar way.

  Categories: Community Support, Resources, Psychological Health, Military Children   |   Comments (0)

• From DCoE Director: We Wish You Good Health, Well-Being this Veterans Day

  Posted by Capt. Mike Colston, DCoE Director on November 10, 2015

  On Veterans Day we honor all veterans for their service and sacrifice. I believe this is something we at Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) have the responsibility and privilege to do every day. We serve our service members, veterans and military families through our important work to improve prevention and treatment of traumatic brain injuries and psychological health concerns.

  I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all veterans who have served around the world and for those transitioning out of the military. We honor your service by supporting your resilience, strength and health by making available much-needed psychological health and traumatic brain injury resources for you, your families and your health care providers.

  Thanks to all who have served and those who continue to serve our great nation. May you and your families enjoy a safe, happy and healthy Veterans Day.

  Categories: Community Support, DCoE, Leadership   |   Comments (0)