ADVERTISEMENT
Friday, March 5, 2021
  • Contact Us
My blog
  • Home
  • Health
  • Medicine
  • Nutrition
  • Fitness
  • Diet
  • Weight Loss
  • More
    • Mental Health
    • Healthcare
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Health
  • Medicine
  • Nutrition
  • Fitness
  • Diet
  • Weight Loss
  • More
    • Mental Health
    • Healthcare
No Result
View All Result
My blog
No Result
View All Result
Home Mental Health

Veteran mental health concerns on rise during COVID-19 pandemic

Healthy by Healthy
May 29, 2020
in Mental Health
0
Veteran mental health concerns on rise during COVID-19 pandemic
585
SHARES
3.3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterPin It

Local veterans say the social isolation of a global pandemic can be even more difficult for former service-members with mental health concerns.

You might also like

Students encouraged to share ‘snapshot of mental health journey’ for upcoming event – The Daily Evergreen

Police using iPads in encounters with those experiencing mental illness – KTUL

Emergency Physicians Welcome Reintroduction of Bill to Protect Frontline Workers’ Mental Health

TEMPLE HILLS, Md. — Army veteran Natalie Hodge knows what she lost when she left the service: her self-respect.

“I lost my self-esteem and I was very suicidal,” she said. “It was very, very challenging for me.”

Hodge said he tried taking her life six times after leaving the military.

“Those were very dark moments for me, again, I didn’t believe in who I was,” she said. “I lost my identity.”

After many years of suffering, Hodge found light in her life through therapy. She now has a full-time job working for the federal government and finds stress relief working out and walking her two rescue dogs.

But what she can’t imagine is still being in that dark place, already feeling alone and isolated, and, on top of that, dealing with a global pandemic.

“I had sentenced myself to a wall-less, door-less prison in my brain, so being home right now, if I was not in a better place in me, that’s the total recipe,” Hodge said “That’s the total recipe to take your life.”

So, Hodge has organized Zoom calls with her veteran groups to talk about these concerns. She said she hears from people who have put their lives on the line to serve our country and now say they feel even more alone and are afraid to reach out for help.

“Being alone definitely is very, very challenging, and when you don’t feel that you have any resources, that’s what hurts the most,” she said.

We asked Hodge if she thinks the Department of Veterans Affairs is doing enough to help veterans during this challenging time.

“I’ve been seeing a lot of emails and that’s really encouraging to have those,” she said. “What about the ones that don’t have email?”

She feels regular phone calls would be an even better way to reach this vulnerable population.

We brought the idea to Dr. Matthew Miller, the director of VA’s suicide prevention program.

“That’s a great idea and definitely I agree,” he said. “There’s one aspect of it that says, ‘Hey, call us, we’re here,’ but there’s really another very important and necessary aspect, which is backing that up and reaching out, not just waiting necessarily for that call to come in.”

Miller said the calls are coming into the Veteran Crisis Line. At the start of March, less than 1% of them were COVID-19-related. The numbers kept increasing. By the end of that month, between 20-25% of the incoming calls centered around the coronavirus.

According to VA officials, they’re adapting. They’ve encouraged telehealth and video visits, sent out millions of texts through the Vet Text program, added resources to the crisis line and transitioned those 700 staff members to telework.

“The safer that our staff are, the safer that the mission is for the Veterans Crisis Line and the more our staff is positioned to do what they want to do, which is answer those calls coming in,” Miller said.

We also asked Miller if he feels his agency is doing enough to reach out to vets during this time.

RELATED: DMV servicemembers describe deployment to NYC’s Javits Center to fight COVID-19

RELATED: Inside the Maryland military lab working on a COVID-19 vaccine and treatment

“I think we’re on the front edge of this, also, though always willing to watch, learn, grow and improve along the way,” he responded.

Miller explained now, the VA is also looking into increasing the capacity for telehealth and video connections.

As Natalie continues to connect with her fellow veterans, she appreciates the recognition this is a work in progress.

“Us as soldiers, the ones who’ve given our lives, given our time for our service for this country, I think more does have to be done,” she added.

If you get one thing from this story it’s this — if you need help, the Veterans Crisis Line is still answering your calls amidst this pandemic. Here is the number to call: 1-800-273-TALK, then press 1.

Here are also some resources Natalie says helped her through difficult times:

Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP) – www.asapasap.org

Operation Tohidu -Melwood – https://www.melwood.org/veterans-services/old/program-overview

Spirit Of Faith Christian Center (SOFCC) – https://spiritoffaith.org/  

Together Program for Financial Literacy – info@togetherprogram.org | 

Vets For Pets – www.petsforvets.com – (FREE for Veterans)

RELATED: ‘Bring honor to those who have passed’ Buglers play Taps on front porches to honor fallen from home

Download the brand new WUSA9 app here.

Sign up for the Get Up DC newsletter: Your forecast. Your commute. Your news.

Source link

Previous Post

Stanford study raises prospect of blood test to measure aerobic fitness

Next Post

River Spirit Casino Resort to offer free night stay for healthcare professionals – KTUL

Healthy

Healthy

Related Posts

Students encouraged to share ‘snapshot of mental health journey’ for upcoming event – The Daily Evergreen
Mental Health

Students encouraged to share ‘snapshot of mental health journey’ for upcoming event – The Daily Evergreen

by Healthy
March 5, 2021
Police using iPads in encounters with those experiencing mental illness – KTUL
Mental Health

Police using iPads in encounters with those experiencing mental illness – KTUL

by Healthy
March 5, 2021
Emergency Physicians Welcome Reintroduction of Bill to Protect Frontline Workers’ Mental Health
Mental Health

Emergency Physicians Welcome Reintroduction of Bill to Protect Frontline Workers’ Mental Health

by Healthy
March 4, 2021
How do I deal with my mental health in a new relationship? – The Minnesota Daily
Mental Health

How do I deal with my mental health in a new relationship? – The Minnesota Daily

by Healthy
March 4, 2021
Hazel Fischer Elementary to offer expanded mental health services | Calaveras County’s Most Trusted News Source
Mental Health

Hazel Fischer Elementary to offer expanded mental health services | Calaveras County’s Most Trusted News Source

by Healthy
March 4, 2021
Next Post
River Spirit Casino Resort to offer free night stay for healthcare professionals – KTUL

River Spirit Casino Resort to offer free night stay for healthcare professionals - KTUL

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

Visual Nutrition Assessment for High School Athletes

Visual Nutrition Assessment for High School Athletes

October 25, 2020
SPORTS MEDICINE: As heat wave approaches, learn lessons from recent heat-related deaths | Sports

SPORTS MEDICINE: As heat wave approaches, learn lessons from recent heat-related deaths | Sports

August 23, 2020

Categories

  • Diet
  • Fitness
  • Health
  • Healthcare
  • Medicine
  • Mental Health
  • Nutrition
  • Weight Loss

Don't miss it

Second Bay Area Health Provider to Postpone Vaccination Appointments – NBC Bay Area
Health

Second Bay Area Health Provider to Postpone Vaccination Appointments – NBC Bay Area

March 5, 2021
Dynamic Stem Cell Therapy Offers Regenerative Medicine
Medicine

Dynamic Stem Cell Therapy Offers Regenerative Medicine

March 5, 2021
Vaccine brings hope for health care professionals
Healthcare

Vaccine brings hope for health care professionals

March 5, 2021
Students encouraged to share ‘snapshot of mental health journey’ for upcoming event – The Daily Evergreen
Mental Health

Students encouraged to share ‘snapshot of mental health journey’ for upcoming event – The Daily Evergreen

March 5, 2021
Jury trial on fitness debated in murder case
Fitness

Jury trial on fitness debated in murder case

March 5, 2021
Kidney health: Include these evidence-based kidney flush drinks in your diet for a quick cleanse and detox
Diet

Kidney health: Include these evidence-based kidney flush drinks in your diet for a quick cleanse and detox

March 5, 2021
My blog

All the latest breaking news on Healthy Eating. Browse The Independent's complete collection of articles and commentary on Healthy Eating

Categories

  • Diet
  • Fitness
  • Health
  • Healthcare
  • Medicine
  • Mental Health
  • Nutrition
  • Weight Loss

Trending

Jessica Simpson Lookin’ Like a Leggy Snack After Weight Loss Worries

UM receives federal grant to support telemental health, distance learning

Health IT’s role in combating mental health crisis – Healthcare Finance News

Food and Nutrition Services Master’s Student Brings Home 3MT Win

Recent News

Second Bay Area Health Provider to Postpone Vaccination Appointments – NBC Bay Area

Second Bay Area Health Provider to Postpone Vaccination Appointments – NBC Bay Area

March 5, 2021
Dynamic Stem Cell Therapy Offers Regenerative Medicine

Dynamic Stem Cell Therapy Offers Regenerative Medicine

March 5, 2021

© 2020 eathealthyandlivehealthy.com

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Health
  • Medicine
  • Nutrition
  • Fitness
  • Diet
  • Weight Loss
  • More
    • Mental Health
    • Healthcare

© 2020 eathealthyandlivehealthy.com

//zuphaims.com/afu.php?zoneid=3399210