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Posts Tagged ‘mental health treatment’
Monday, January 23rd, 2012
Camp Pendleton’s 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment unit suffered some of the highest causalities due to heavy combat in Afghanistan, including 25 deaths, more than 150 injuries, and over a dozen traumatic amputation. Instead of bringing the unit back and releasing the members to fend for themselves, the Marine Corps required the remaining soldiers to remain at Camp Pendleton for 90 days for mental health evaluation and to help ease their transition back into civilian society.
In the 90-day “decompression” program, the soldiers were given the opportunity to hold a memorial for their fallen comrades, participate in social events, like barbeques and banquets, and learn how to communicate about their war experiences. The veterans will be monitored to see if the program has helped improve their mental health and prevent many of the problems faced by veterans coping with conditions like PTSD or anxiety disorders.
As more veterans have had to file for veterans’ disability due to PTSD and other mental health conditions related to combat experience, the military has increased its efforts to help soldiers both active and retired with psychological health care. If a veteran still suffers from these conditions, veterans disability benefits may be available to help.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.
Tags: mental health treatment, U.S. veterans, Veterans Mental Health
Posted in General, Iraq-Afghanistan War, Veterans' Disability | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
The Department of Labor (DOL) is funding the Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program (IVTP), which will be managed by the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service and Education Center (PVMSEC). The program helps veterans who have been in prison. Possibly more significantly, the program also helps those who are still facing criminal charges as an alternative to sentencing. The program was designed to prevent homelessness among veterans, which is a very rampant problem.
More veterans than ever are returning from combat suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Many times soldiers returning from combat and suffering from these issues find themselves in trouble with the law. The IVTP seeks to help these veterans as many find themselves homeless following their prison terms.
Tens of thousands of soldiers end up detained in State and Federal prisons; and when that happens, veterans are not given the chance to be fully diagnosed and therefore treated for conditions such as PTSD and TBI. Diagnosis and treatment may very well have prevented incarceration in the first place.
In 2004, there were approximately 140,000 veterans locked up in State and Federal prisons. Additionally,
- 46% of veterans in federal, and 15% of veterans in state prisons, are incarcerated for drug offenses;
- 61% of locked up veterans meet the psychological diagnostic requirements for substance dependence or abuse;
- Over 50% of the veterans serving time in federal prisons served in the military during wartime; and
- At least 10% of all inmates are veterans.
Ideally, there would be perfect communication between VA doctors and those doctors associated with the courts and responsible for providing medical care to prisoners. Veterans cannot be brought back from these wars and left alone to deal with their conditions, which are a direct result of their participation in these wars.
The IVTP can and will play a crucial role in many veterans’ lives. Veterans have to be treated before they get to the point of addiction and poor choices because of their mental state. Homelessness will not end in the veteran population without more proactive measures.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. You may be entitled to certain programs and benefits so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program, mental health treatment, post-traumatic stress disorder, trauma, Traumatic Brain Injury, VA healthcare system, veteran homelessness, veterans in prison, Veterans’ Mental Health
Posted in VA News, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010
Many returning veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have anxiety issues including fears of being in public places and around big groups of people. Other veterans struggle with being wounded and still others from varying forms of anxiety. A charity called America’s VetDogs helps these veterans regain some sense of control over their lives.
Veterans from all over the U.S. come to the VetDogs campus in Smithtown, N.Y. to be matched up with a dog specifically trained to care for that veteran. Dogs trained at this facility are used to console patients at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers across the country, to include Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Additionally, two “combat stress” dogs live with psychotherapists in both Tikrit and Mosul, Iraq and two more will be sent over this month. These dogs provide emotional assistance to military personnel suffering from:
- Sleep disorders;
- Homesickness; or
- Battle-related anxieties.
The dogs’ training is specific to the veteran they are paired with. If necessary, they help with picking up dropped items, balance problems, and carrying small backpacks. Military personnel suffering from PTSD are given dogs able to sense environments, such as crowds, they may find stressful and physically act to prevent the soldier from getting too close to the situation.
Service dogs are credited with helping many patients recover at VA hospitals all over the country. These dogs have been integrated in psychotherapy sessions because of their ability to relax patients, which makes it easier for soldiers to access their emotions. The dogs physically touch the veterans when they sense them clamming up and it helps those veterans to release.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. You may be entitled to certain programs and benefits so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: America's VetDogs, Disabled Veterans, mental health treatment, post-traumatic stress disorder, service dogs, Veterans' Resources, Veterans’ Mental Health
Posted in Disabled Veterans | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010
On any given day, almost 300,000 veterans suffer from the symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). One of the biggest problems many of these veterans face is getting treatment. The Warrior Salute Program (WSP) uses distinctive solutions to help those in need.
The Warrior Salute Program helps soldiers suffering with TBIs and PTSD re-learn skills demanded by civilian life in order to help them live independently. The way the soldiers re-learn depends on their individual progress and success with particular therapies. One person may use music therapy whereas another may adjust through learning a new skill.
For their first participant, the WSP used private partnerships to provide a furnished apartment as long as the veteran was attending therapy. Further, the veteran is given two meals a day and as his therapy ends, the WSP will help him find a job. The WSP currently survives on these private partnerships as well as local fundraising.
The Warrior Salute Program could very well serve as a pilot program on a national scale. It would however, require a series of private agencies to partner with both the VA and the military.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. You may be entitled to certain programs and benefits so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: Disabled Veterans, mental health treatment, post-traumatic stress disorder, TBI, Veterans Mental Health, Warrior Salute Program
Posted in Disabled Veterans, General, Veterans' Resources | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing new rules which will help veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The new rules will make it easier for these veterans to get their owed benefits and according to Congressional analysts will costs up to $5 billion over the coming years.
Under these new rules, veterans will no longer have to document the precise event that may be the cause of the veterans PTSD. Veterans have long since complained about the difficulty and sometimes even impossibility of tracking down the records required to document such events.
The current rule even serves to discriminate in the current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Thousands of soldiers have returned and are returning to the U.S. suffering from PTSD but never served in combat roles. For these veterans, compensation for PTSD is impossible.
The new rules will correct this injustice. No longer will veterans have to prove the existence of a specific, traumatizing event. Instead, the only thing soldiers will need to show to be compensated is:
- They served in a war zone; and
- In a job consistent with the events they claim caused their PTSD; or
- They had reason to fear stressors (traumatic events) without even experiencing those events.
Initial opposition to the new rules cite the high cost as well as younger veterans becoming dependent on the compensation as opposed to seeking treatment. Treating someone as totally disabled when they are not is destructive. Proponents of the new rules believe veterans apply for compensation for the health care, not to make money off the disability checks. The majority of disabled veterans would rather be functional than doing nothing but collecting checks.
The new rule does include a fail safe for this very reason. Final determination for benefits rests with a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) psychologist or psychiatrist. This will ensure consistent standards for assessments as well as providing protection for veterans in need of services.
No longer are PTSD compensation benefits available only to combat personnel. These new rules ensure those veterans in need of benefits are given the most help possible.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. You may be entitled to certain programs and benefits so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: Disabled Veterans, mental health treatment, PTSD, PTSD treatment, VA rules for benefits, Veterans' Benefits
Posted in VA News, Veterans' Disability | No Comments »
Thursday, May 13th, 2010
It seems the more veterans returning from combat deployments suffering from PTSD the more therapeutic programs are developed. Had you visited Shadow Cliffs Regional Park last Friday and seen the 20 veterans standing on the lake you may not have come to the conclusion that it was a therapy session, but that is exactly what it was.
A veteran at Walter Reed Medical Center created Project Healing Waters in 2005. The Project’s focus is on soldiers and veterans and their physical and emotional rehabilitation; most of the participants suffer from PTSD. They attempt to do this through fly fishing, among other activities.
Fly fishing, it seems, is an ideal way in which to conduct therapy. One thing fly fishing provides is a very beautiful and tranquil environment. The operators of Project Healing Waters believe healing properties exist in the outdoor environment. They believe being outdoors has helped those suffering from:
- Depression;
- Suicidal tendencies; and
- Autism.
Some veterans suffering from PTSD find fly fishing useful because of their shortened attention spans and their difficulty completing certain tasks. Making a tie able to attract fish is essential to fly fishing. Being able to make a successful tie requires an involved, complex, and complicated process. This process requires not only hand-eye coordination, but tolerance and patience.
Fly fishing itself demands these same traits. Successful fly fishing depends on paying attention to your movements and concentrating on controlling your body. Because of the concentration required to fly fish, veterans cannot fish and focus on the stress in their lives at the same time. Fishing then, provides many veterans with momentary mental reprieves.
The Project members believe showing veterans who suffer from PTSD they can complete small tasks and in turn larger tasks works as a building block toward improving their mental health.
If you are a veteran and suffering from PTSD and fighting the VA to get disability compensation, contact LaVan & Neidenberg, a veterans law firm located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We represent more than 5000 disability claimants. Our disability attorneys have experience with cross examining agency-appointed medical and vocational experts and take time when speaking with you about your disability claim. Call us today at 1-888-234-5758 for a FREE legal consultation. There is NO OBLIGATION to hire our firm and there are NO FEES unless one of our trained disability lawyers wins your case.
Tags: Disabled Veterans, mental health treatment, PTSD, PTSD Therapy
Posted in General, Veterans' Disability | No Comments »
Thursday, May 6th, 2010
Out of the 23 million veterans in the United States, only approximately 8 million take advantage of their owed Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. While not every military veteran needs VA services or benefits, many more than 8 million do need them. One big issue in getting help for veterans is making sure veterans know the services are available in the first place.
The last two decades have seen Congressional expanded veteran benefits while at the same time lowering the standards for eligibility. This is crucial. For those veterans enduring undiagnosed service-connected illnesses, it means the difference between continued suffering and treatment. For others it may mean the difference between a level of financial security and a life of wanting.
There are 8 fundamental benefit programs of which every veteran should be aware. While not every veteran will need or qualify for every program, those veterans in need will probably be able to find a program to help them. These 8 programs are:
- Disability compensation;
- War veteran pensions;
- VA Health care;
- In-home care;
- Assisted living;
- Prescription drug plans;
- Nursing Home Care; and
- VA-guaranteed mortgages.
This country has an obligation to take care of our veterans. The VA offers many programs to help veterans in many aspects of their lives. In order to take advantage of these programs, however, veterans must know the programs exist in the first place.
Learn more about 8 essential programs of which every veteran should be aware.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. You may be entitled to certain programs and benefits so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: Disabled Veterans, mental health treatment, VA Benefits, VA healthcare, veteran programs, Veterans' Resources
Posted in Disabled Veterans, Veterans' Benefits, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
In the Yountville, California Veterans Home, not every veteran is on the same path. Three years ago the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched the Pathway Home Project (PHP), which houses approximately 30 young veterans from the “war on terror.” All the occupants of the PHP served in Iraq and Afghanistan and all suffer from deep, psychological scars as a result of their time served.
To date, around 150 soldiers have passed through the Pathway Home, with another graduation happening at the end of the month. Every veteran living in the Pathway Home is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The VA mental health care provider for the PHP estimates:
- 4 out of 5 have contemplated suicide; and
- 1 out of 5 has been homeless since returning from their deployment.
Private monies have kept the PHP above water for the last three years. The PHP costs $1.7 million per year to operate and those funds are just about exhausted. Without a federal grant or more outside donors, PHP will most likely close its doors.
The PHP is a very attractive environment for veterans because it is not a structured military environment. Instead, it is just a place where a couple of guys support each other through shared experiences. Additionally, there is a specialized therapy program and the ability to visit family.
Pathway Home is different from other rehabilitation homes. Besides the private funding, the PHP allows a more open mental health approach towards treating PTSD to include non-traditional treatments like involving family directly in therapy. Socialization is a very important part of the program, both for the veterans and their family.
Learn more about the Pathway Home Project and how it is helping young veterans with PTSD.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. You may be entitled to certain programs and benefits so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: mental health treatment, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, pathway home project, PTSD, VA health care, Veterans' Resources, Veterans’ Mental Health
Posted in General, Iraq-Afghanistan War, Veterans' Disability, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki credits a group effort between the VA and Department of Defense (DoD) officials with being able to successfully recognize and treat returning combat veterans suffering from mental-health issues before the symptoms worsen and become more severe, long-term problems.
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosed and treated early usually results in better treatment than waiting years to attempt to treat symptoms. It is believed most people returning from a combat deployment suffer from at least a couple symptoms of PTSD. It is important to catch these symptoms and treat them before they become full-blown PTSD. PTSD usually does not set it in right away; it typically develops after symptoms continue to be ignored.
The military performs a medical readiness assessment on every soldier prior to deployment. Those soldiers revealing mental health concerns are evaluated specifically by mental-health providers to determine their ability to deploy. Soldiers are then given a global health assessment within 7 days after returning from deployment. Because not all mental and physical symptoms immediately present themselves, the DoD now performs reassessments 3-6 months following their return from deployment.
For those more severe situations, the military embeds mental health support teams to provide immediate mental health aid. The hardest part is actually getting the soldiers to admit they need help and convincing them to connect with mental health providers. The more veterans getting help show other veterans there is no shame in suffering from these mental health issues.
The burden is on the system to take care of those deployed to defend this country; to ensure every veteran is exposed to every mental health counseling opportunity. This is becoming more of a reality as the budgets for both the VA and the DoD allow for more money to be used towards mental-health services.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. You may be entitled to certain programs and benefits so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: Department of Defense, mental health treatment, PTSD, Veterans' Resources
Posted in Disabled Veterans, General, Iraq-Afghanistan War | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 7th, 2010
Norristown, PA is welcoming a new Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facility. The facility treats veterans suffering from physical, emotional, and psychological trauma while deployed overseas. The facility has a 4 person staff charged with managing programs focusing not only on veterans but on their families as well. After all, it is not only the veteran that suffers.
VA counseling programs are available to any soldier who has spent one day in either a combat or conflict zone; the solider must have been in a hostile, overseas country. Qualifying conflicts include:
- World War II;
- Korea;
- Vietnam;
- Lebanon;
- Grenada;
- Somalia;
- Bosnia;
- Iraq;
- Afghanistan;
- The global war on terrorism; and
- American Merchant Marines engaged in ocean-going service between Dec.7, 1941, and Dec. 31, 1946.
The medical center offers counseling in many different areas. The primary goal of the clinic, however, is to treat veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), of which a vast amount of their patients suffer. PTSD very often causes soldiers to experience incapacitating symptoms. Because of how the veterans are affected, families are eligible to participate in therapy as well.
While the news is filled with stories of returning soldiers suffering from PTSD, statistically, there were more Vietnam Veterans suffering from PTSD than suffer in our current two wars. It is a good thing, then, this clinic treats veterans from every generation.
Learn more about this new facility focusing on veteran trauma such as PTSD.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, contact LaVan & Neidenberg. You may be entitled to certain programs and benefits so contact our veterans disability rights firm today.
Tags: Mental Health Counseling, mental health treatment, PTSD, VA healthcare, Veterans' Resources
Posted in General, Veterans' Disability, Veterans' Resources | No Comments »
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