Several years ago, a soldier I once knew told me about the time he had to dig graves for children who’d starved to death in a country most of us have never been to. It wasn’t a war zone; these children simply didn’t have enough food to stay alive. He and his fellow soldiers dug the graves while family members stood looking on.

This experience stayed with him for a very long time.

I’ve written about America’s service men and women more than a few times here at Mental Health Notes, so it’s no surprise I’m doing it again today. It is Veterans Day, after all.

However, rather than provide you with a list of resources for veterans – something that’s pretty characteristic of me – I’m providing you with ways you can provide resources for veterans. Specifically, mental health resources.

That’s right, you can take the reigns. Two pretty big mental health groups are making it possible. Both Mental Health America and the National Alliance on Mental Illness have donation sites set up where you can donate money to help veterans, someday-veterans, and family members obtain the help they need to deal with reentry more smoothly.

MHN is accepting donations through their program Operation Health Reunions, and NAMI is accepting them through their Veterans Tribute Honor Roll. (And, while you’re over at NAMI, don’t forget to check out their new 14-page brochure on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

PTSD and depression, anger and violence, substance abuse, suicide – these are all things many of America’s returning soldiers and veterans deal with from day to day. Sadly, there seems to be a lack of adequate resources for these men and women, as well as a trend in both active military men and women and veterans not seeking the help they need. If today’s the day you can donate to help, do so.

And, take a few minutes to visit Mary Emma Allen’s Veterans Day Memories in Alzheimer’s World and contribute your own memories.

Post from: Blisstree

Help Veterans Obtain Mental Health Resources