With May here, many of us are excited for more sunshine and warmer weather and are planning our summer adventures. As we prepare for all these, we are reminded that it is Mental Health Awareness Month at the Healing Warriors Program. Since 1949, the United States has observed Mental Health Awareness Month to promote the often internal struggles so many of us experience.
For Veterans, these struggles can be amplified and have deadly consequences. Veterans, particularly women and those aged 18-45 are dying by suicide at a higher rate than the general adult American population. The numbers are staggering and are not slowing down despite the efforts of so many people, administrations, and organizations. Gaining awareness and understanding of one’s own mental health is a fruitful exercise, even if it creates short-term discomfort and vulnerability. However, mental health awareness is more than an individual effort; it is also a community effort.
This is the perspective that Healing Warriors Program strives for—growing and engaging a community that is aware and supportive of the needs of Veterans and their families. Awareness of symptoms and effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, guilt, Moral Injury, and many others are important for our communities and could save a life. But many of us are uncomfortable or unsure of what to do in these moments—when we see those symptoms or behaviors. And that makes sense; reacting to a concern is often harder, emotional, and vulnerable in ways that are hard to predict and practice.
There is something that a community can do. A community of businesses, service providers, nonprofits, citizens, and volunteers can be proactive in their understanding of the mental health needs of others. It is noted that a Veteran suicide event, regardless of outcome, is about 70 minutes. From the triggering event to the attempt to take their own lives takes, on average, about 70 minutes. But what about the minutes before that? The hours before that? Those hours and minutes before the triggering event are when a community can use awareness for proactive good.
As we go through this month, we will provide some more information on how we, as a community, can increase our:
- Awareness of the needs of Veterans and their families
- Creative ways to support Veterans and their families
- Understand what service options are available at Healing Warriors Program
What are some ways that you could contribute proactively to a community? How can you help a Veteran?
We are doing a four-part series for Mental Health Awareness Month. Stay tuned for more.