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- VA CareersGovernment Organization
- National Association of Social WorkersOrganization
- American Counseling AssociationNon-Profit Organization
- U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned CorpsGovernment Organization
- Every day, families and communities welcome their Service members home from the wars. The homecoming is happy, but there can be challenges adjusting to the "new normal." Our Returning from the War Zone guides can help.
- "Just get over it." If you are dealing with PTSD---or any mental health issue---you may have gotten this message from others. What can we do to fight back against these messages, and others like them? Our fact sheet PTSD, Work, and Your Community has some tips.
- We've just released the latest issue of PTSD Monthly Update. This edition is all about complementary and alternative medicine and PTSD. Check it out, and get on the mailing list for future issues.
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network just released a resource called "Simple Activities for Children and Adolescents." It's a listing of things you can do with kids to keep boredom at bay. For those of you cooped up at home or in shelters post-Sandy, it can be a welcome resource.
- Our thoughts are with those affected by the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. We've put together resource that can help with the distress many survivors are feeling.
- The National Center for PTSD - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and National Child Traumatic Stress Network developed this app for first responders to help disaster survivors.
- If you've lost power due to Hurricane Sandy, please heed this important warning from the CDC.
- Are you tech ready? FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency offers tips on how to use the latest technology---the cloud, text messaging, and so on---to be prepared and stay safe during emergencies.
- Residents of the East Coast---from Florida north---should monitor the progress of Hurricane Sandy, If you are feeling upset and anxious, the Disaster Distress Helpline is a good place to turn.
- While they say it's rare, some student Veterans are feeling hostility on their college campuses. The news story in the comment below gives some vivid examples. That's why we developed the VA Campus Toolkit. It has resources support student Veterans who are readjusting to campus life. And it offers suggestions to fight stereotypes and misconceptions about military service.
- Interesting question: "If you could tell others one thing about PTSD, what would it be?"
- September was Suicide Prevention Month, and you may have seen a lot in the media and online about how we can support friends and family who are struggling. But the helpers need help too! Learn resources that can help you take care of yourself, while caring for others.
- Interested in alternative medicine approaches to PTSD treatment? Then you'll be interested in our upcoming issue of the PTSD Monthly Update. It will focus on yoga, acupuncture, animal-assisted therapy and other alternative treatments. Why not sign up for a free e mail subscription?
- Do you know about Give an Hour? It's an organization that links up mental health providers with OEF/OIF/OND Veterans and Service members who need counseling. Services are available for family members, too.
- Some therapists are afraid to use exposure-based therapy---a very effective treatment for PTSD---with patients who also have drug problems. They're afraid it won't work and that patients will abuse drugs even more. But a recent study shows that these patients can do well with exposure therapy, and the treatment does not increase their drug use. Drug use and PTSD often go together, so these findings are important.
- Many Vets and others with PTSD have other medical and mental health issues as well. Depression, TBI, sleep problems, and pain are just some of the challenges they face. That's why we've teamed up with the DCoE - Defense Centers of Excellence to present a talk next week for providers about medication treatment for people with PTSD and other problems. This free online lecture is for healthcare providers. Pass it on!
- Last week, we posted about making the transition from war zone to home front. A program in New York is teaming up new Veterans with peers for support and advice.
- "I thought I was the toughest person I knew, I could handle anything. But I couldn't deal with my own demons," so says Marine Corps Veteran Arthur Davis. But a Veterans Court in Texas has helped him and so many others in trouble with the law get treatment and support.
- PTSD is just one of the effects of trauma. People who have been through war, assault, disasters, or other traumas can have a range of reactions. Depression, problems with alcohol, and even chronic pain are just a few. Learn more on the National Center for PTSD website. http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/fslist-other_common_problems.asp