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Powerful TED Talk about a soldiers experiences in joining the military and being deployed overseas. He is able to articulately give insight into what Veterans experience once they come back from being in a war zone. Hes goes on to encourage getting to know Veterans and acknowledging they still have so much to offer, even after sacrificing for their county.

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Wes Moore: How to talk to veterans about the war

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VA Expanding New Holistic Health Programs

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VA Expanding New Holistic Health Programs

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An interesting article about how the VA may be moving toward a more holistic approach to the care and well being of Veterans. This involves treating the Veteran and his/her family in a multifaceted way, incorporating physical, mental, and spiritual wellness into treatment plans.

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VA is expanding its "whole health" initiative by adding 18 Whole Health Flagship Sites to its existing network of 24 Whole Health Design Sites.

The Whole Health Initiative

Haven't heard of the "Whole Health Initiative?" Neither had I.

According the the VA's website, the Whole Health Initiative is a new program that they say creates a personalized health plan that considers the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and environmental needs of veterans. The VA says the Whole Health System "acknowledges that health care involves more than the physical human body."

"VA's Whole Health approach helps veterans live their lives to the fullest," said VA Acting Secretary Robert Wilkie. "By developing a personal health plan that integrates many areas of their lives, veterans can truly take charge of their well being and improve their health all around. I'm pleased to recognize these VA facilities that are helping our veterans do just that."

New Direction For VA Care

This new program offers things like peer support involving other veterans with similar medical conditions or military service experience; well being programs such as yoga, tai chi, and mindfulness; and whole health clinical care utilizing a holistic approach rather than just handing out pills.

The VA says they are shifting from a health care system focused primarily on treating disease to one rooted in forming continuous healing relationships and partnerships that "support you in achieving your greatest overall well being." The result is a whole health approach, which is a radical redesign of health care focused on empowering you.

This is indeed a radical departure from the way the VA (and most other doctors) have always operated. Will it be a major, lasting change; or just another short-lived attempt to reinvent the VA?

If your local VA Medical Center isn't one of the participating sites, don't worry, every VA Medical Center offers an Introduction to Whole Health learning opportunity for transitioning service members, family members and veterans.

For information about the Whole Health System, flagship facilities or design sites, visit https://www.va.gov/patientcenteredcare.

Will The Whole Health Initiative Succeed?

I personally haven't seen this in action at my local VA clinic, maybe some of you have.

It would be nice to have the doctor listen to you for once, but I'm not sure I want to spend an hour talking to him and other veterans in my "peer-support group" about how I want to succeed in life. I usually just want to get my meds and leave as soon as possible. I'm old school like that.

What do you folks think?

Show Full Article

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VA Expanding New Holistic Health Programs

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VA is expanding its "whole health" initiative by adding 18 Whole Health Flagship Sites to its existing network of 24 Whole Health Design Sites. Haven't heard of the "Whole Health Initiative?" Neither had I.

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Effectiveness of the Tobacco Tactics Program for Psychiatric Inpatient Veterans: An Implementation Study

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Effectiveness of the Tobacco Tactics Program for Psychiatric Inpatient Veterans: An Implementation Study

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In this research study, inpatient Veterans with mental health issues participated in a tobacco cessation program. The Veteran's inpatient nurses were the ones to implement the program and education. They found that Veterans with mental health issues want to quit smoking and are more likely to quit, long term, with the implementation of a smoking cessation program.

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This is the website for a wellness program created by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services specifically for Veterans. There is information about medication aids, facts about quitting tobacco, and tools for support. The veteran can create their own custom plan and path to becoming smoke free, all while get support along the way.

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SmokefreeVET's mission is to help Veterans who get their health care through VA become tobacco-free. This website provides information, resources, and support that can help Vets quit for good.

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Military Families Cope with Traumatic Brain Injuries at West Orange Hospital

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Military Families Cope with Traumatic Brain Injuries at West Orange Hospital

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This video shows the struggles that a Veteran with an extensive TBI can face. TBI can leave Veterans without the ability to perform basic activities of living. The care of the Veteran can fall on the family members.

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Military families cope with traumatic brain injury at West Orange hospital

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Veterans Inc is a great resource for Veterans and their families. They take a more holistic approach to issues veterans face like homelessness, employment, and healthcare. They coordinate all issues with a case manager who keeps track of and help with everything from treatment plans to legal advice.

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Veterans Inc - Serving Veterans & Their Families Across America

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Veterans Inc. is a national leader in ending homelessness among veterans.

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This is a short fact sheet about TBI screening and evaluation research. The presence of PTSD can reduce the accuracy of the TBI screening.

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This resource is for Veterans or their family members to call, text or online chat in order to receive support, information, and further resources in crisis situations. It also has information about when to contact, what to expect, and how to get in contact with other local resources. 1-800-273-8255

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24/7, confidential crisis support for Veterans and their loved ones. Contact the Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988 then Press 1, chat online, or text 838255.

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A program dedicated to the health and wellness of Veterans and their Families. They partner with Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation to offer services ranging from healthcare to education. While limited to MA and FL at the moment, this program is trying to expand and serve Veterans in other states.

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Home Base Program | Veteran & Family Care

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Home Base is dedicated to healing the Invisible Wounds of War for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families through clinical care, wellness-based programs, community outreach, education and research.

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The Veteran's Transition to Civilian Life

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The Veteran's Transition to Civilian Life

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The article has a lot of good information about how Veterans can struggle to get back into civilian life after the military. To me, the most valuable aspect is the visual representations of some of the statistics. It makes the information you read in the article relate to the real world, not just appear as facts on paper.

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Resource for information about how the VA approaches and assesses TBI. Includes information about the injury itself as well as details the services available to Veterans with TBIs.

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This video documents a Veteran through his fight for a better quality of life by practicing yoga. A reminder to civilians and Veterans alike to never give up and a great example of what a person can do when they have someone to believe in them.

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Never, Ever Give Up. Arthur's Inspirational Transformation!

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As an undergraduate student myself, these statistics are interesting. Only 4% of undergraduates are Veterans and it takes an average of five years after high school for a Veteran to enter college.

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This is a great resource for information about wounded Veterans and how to volunteer or donate. It is a nonprofit organization that offers free services to Veterans who suffered from mental or physical wounds after September 11, 2011.

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Veterans Charity - Non Profit Organization for Veterans | WWP

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Wounded Warrior Project is a nonprofit organization that helps veterans and active duty service members. Learn more about our programs or how you can support wounded warriors.

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Facts and Statistics about Women Veterans. One in five women Veterans seen at a VHA said they were victims of military sexual trauma (MST). This statistic, and others presented on this website, show that MST is a widespread problem and not just a few isolated cases.

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Facts and Statistics about Women Veterans

The current projected percentage of U.S. Veterans who are women is 10%. For the most recent projections, visit VetPOP.

As of 2015 women make up nearly 12.3% of OEF/OIF/OND Veterans.

In 2017 the median age of women Veterans was 51 years, compared to 65 years for their male counterparts.

The middle age group (45-64 years old) represents the largest group of women Veteran VHA patients. Among them, the top 10 conditions in FY 2015 included cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, lipid disorders, overweight/obesity); mental health conditions (depression); painful conditions (joint and spine disorders); and other conditions (eye and dermatologic disorders).

In FY 2015, approximately 43% of women Veteran VHA patients were 18-44 years old, 46% were 45-64 years old, and 12% were 65+ years old.

About 1 in 3 women seen in VHA respond "yes" when screened for Military Sexual Trauma (MST).

Although rates of MST are higher among women, because there are so many more men than women in the military, there are actually significant numbers of women and men seen in VA who have experienced MST.

¹ Military Sexual Trauma Support Team. (2019). Military Sexual Trauma Screening Report, Fiscal Year 2019. Washington, DC: Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.

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US Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

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The current projected percentage of U.S. Veterans who are women is 10%. For the most recent projections, visit VetPOP. As of 2015 women make up nearly 12.3% of OEF/OIF/OND Veterans. In 2017 the median age of women Veterans was 51 years, compared to 65 years for their male counterparts.

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National Coalition for Homeless Veterans - Statistics

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National Coalition for Homeless Veterans - Statistics

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Approximately 40,000 Veterans are believed to be homeless on any given night in America. This website covers many of the reason Veterans become homeless, what they need for support, and how you can help.

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National Coalition for Homeless Veterans

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America's homeless veterans have served in World War II, the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq (OEF/OIF), and the military's anti-drug cultivation efforts in South America. Nearly half of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam era.

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An article and short video outlining the history of Memorial Day, as it is sometimes confused with Veteran's Day. Memorial Day is one to remember lost military members, primarily those who were lost in the line of duty.

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Each year on Memorial Day, Americans take a pause from their busy schedules to remember those who gave their lives to protect the freedoms people enjoy daily.

Occurring on the last Monday in May, Memorial Day will be celebrated on May 27, 2019. While most people are aware the holiday honors America's military, at times, the significance of Memorial Day and Veterans Day are conflated.

Veterans Day is commemorated in November and honors all those who have served their country, including those who have passed away. However, it's primarily focused on thanking those who have served who are still alive.

Memorial Day, on the other hand, is designed to honor those service members who passed away, especially those who gave their lives in the line of duty.

In 1868, then-Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic proclaimed May 30 to be Decoration Day. At first, people honored only Union and Confederate soldiers. However, it was expanded after World War I to include all service members who perished in all wars. As of 2018, the United States Census Bureau reported Memorial Day honors more than one million men and women who have died in military service since the Civil War.

Decoration Day gradually became known as Memorial Day and was moved to the last Monday in May in 1968 with the passing of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.

Years after it became a holiday, then-President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, New York, the "Birthplace of Memorial Day" because it began holding formal observances two years before Decoration Day was an official holiday, according to the Library of Congress.

In December 2000, Congress passed and then-President Bill Clinton signed into law the National Moment of Remembrance Act. It called for people to participate in a "symbolic act of unity" and pause at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day to remember the men and women "who died in pursuit of freedom and peace."

The Civil War was the deadliest of all America's confrontations with over 500,000 people dying, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Since the Civil War, America has participated in seven other wars, with casualties identified as:

Spanish-American War: 2,446

World War I: 116,516

World War II: 405,339

Korean War: 54,246

Vietnam War: 90,220

Desert Shield/Desert Storm: 1,948

In the post-9/11-era, Brown University found from October 2001 until October 2018, 6,951 military members were killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. However, that number does not account for all military causalities in the Global War on Terror.

Each year on Memorial Day, services are held at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, including a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and an observance program at the Memorial Amphitheater.

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What is Memorial Day? How is it different from Veterans Day?

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Each year on Memorial Day, Americans take a pause from their busy schedules to remember those who gave their lives to protect the freedoms people enjoy daily. Occurring on the last Monday in May, Memorial Day will be celebrated on May 27, 2019.

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This video is an informative, short overview of the history of women in the Military. Truly an eye-opener once you realize women were not allowed to apply for combat positions until 2016.

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A short history of women in the U.S. military