|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
Not every American feels a sense of elation over the death of Osama Bin Laden, nor did everyone in the military community experience a sense of relief at hearing the news. Indeed, reactions to the end of the decade-long manhunt are mixed and complex. Most Americans do feel great pride and respect for the team of Navy Seals that successfully carried out their extremely dangerous mission. And regardless of their political leaning, most Americans feel gratitude toward our President. We are grateful that he kept the promise he made on the campaign trail to capture or kill the mastermind of the September 11 attacks.
But individual reactions to Bin Laden's death are connected to the circumstances that link each one of us to this American tragedy. Although every American was deeply and personally affected by the attacks in New York City, Washington D.C., and Shanksville, Penn., some individuals and families were--and continue to be--more deeply and profoundly affected than others.
Some who lost family members, friends, or colleagues ten years ago may indeed feel a sense of closure, of relief, and of justice. They may feel peace, knowing that the loss of their loved one's life has finally been avenged. Others who grieved the death of a husband, wife, parent, sibling, or child may again feel overwhelming grief and pain. For them his death is a reminder of the loss that forever changed their lives. It may be weeks or months before these Americans are able to come to terms with the pain they must again endure.
Reactions to Bin Laden's death vary among those in the military and among their family members. Many who are currently serving joined our Armed Forces following the September 11 attacks, because they felt a calling to serve, a patriotic drive, or a desire to support the effort to bring this man to justice. Some of these men and women will experience closure and validation, deeming the collective mission successful and their hard work and sacrifice indeed worth it. Many feel a tremendous sense of pride in their community, as well they should.
Some members of the military express a very different reaction to the news of Bin Laden's death. They are concerned that this event--although unquestionably an important victory in the war on terrorism--might overshadow the larger mission. They note that there are many who hate our values, many who would relish the opportunity to cause pain and suffering to our people, many who would like to destroy our way of life. In the view of these soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors, the war on fanaticism and terrorism is far from over, and we must not relax our efforts or lower our guard.
Military family members are also understandably mixed in their reactions to Bin Laden's death. Some are filled with pride. Many hope that his death will mean the beginning of the end of conflict in the Middle East. Others are worried that those who followed Bin Laden will strike back fiercely against our troops. They fear their loved ones face greater danger now than ever before. They pray for a safe return for all who are in harm's way.
And then there are the individuals and organizations that care for those who serve and their families. Many of us already feel a powerful sense of urgency. Over 2.2 million men and women have served in the War on Terrorism. Over 1 million of those have completed their commitments and have returned to communities across the country. Many of those coming home have suffered physical injuries as a result of their service; many more have suffered the invisible injuries of war. All have been affected by their experience, and many will continue to struggle with the burdens of war for months and years to come.
We as a nation must not turn our attention from the men, women, and families who have chosen to serve our country during this decade of war. They will continue to need our care, our support, and our attention long after the last round of these wars is fired and long after the last terrorist is silenced.
Take care,
Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D.
Founder and President
Give an Hour™
|
|
 Help Give an Hour™ Win $250,000
GAH needs your vote, once a day, to get us into the next round! We've entered the Vivint charities contest, honoring charities doing heroic work in communities across the country. The charity that receives the most votes will receive $250,000, while five other top charities will receive $100,000 each. Help us win!
Please click on the link below and "Like" Vivint on Facebook, then click the "Endorse" button on the bottom of the page...that's it! It takes less than 30 seconds and just a few clicks of your mouse.
Please urge your family and friends to vote for Give an Hour™, too. Every vote counts, and this is a great way to show your support for Give an Hour™. You can e-mail the link, tweet it, and post it on Facebook or on your blog or Web site.
Remember to vote once a day! Thank you for your support!
http://www.vivint.com/givesbackproject/charity/671
|
 A Marine's Guide to Fishing
"A Marine's Guide to Fishing"
(www.amarinesguide.com) is the story of
a young veteran's first '"Alive Day," the one-year anniversary of the day he didn't die. Now home working his old job on the dockyards of coastal Maine, Connor, a 24-year-old with a wife and a young boy, has to confront the part of himself he
left behind.
The film marks the acting debut of Matthew Pennington, a young veteran who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan before losing his leg in an ambush in Iraq. The film was shot in Maine by a cast and crew of local Mainers and New Yorkers. The original score was composed by Portland-based musician Dan Capaldi (The Cambiata, Sea Level) and also features original songs from former Nirvana and Soundgarden guitarist-turned U.S. Army Ranger Jason Everman and local musician Billy Libby (Even All Out, Billy Libby and Friends). A preview of the 15-minute film is available upon request.
Writer and director Nicholas Brennan is a filmmaker and journalist from Portland, Maine. His previous film, "Hard Rock Havana" premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was named Film of the Year in the Portland Phoenix's 2009 Short Film Festival. He is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
View the trailer: www.vimeo.com/20591630
|
 Psychotherapies for Chronic PTSD: Research Study Offering Free Care
Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI) are collaborating on a no cost study of three different PTSD treatments, to see how well the treatments work and specifically how well they reduce symptoms such as anxiety, avoidance, emotional numbness, mistrust, vivid memories of trauma, and sleep problems. Veterans with PTSD will receive 14 weeks of treatment with one of three psychotherapies: Prolonged Exposure, Relaxation, or Interpersonal Psychotherapy. Evaluated by experts, participants receive a small payment of $75 for completing interviews and assessment forms. Those who do not improve after 14 weeks are offered an additional three months of a different treatment at no cost. The study involves no medication and is not affiliated with the Veterans Administration.
"We are very excited about this study because it compares three very different treatments for PTSD, and we think they all work," says John Markowitz, M.D., who heads the study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. "The question we're studying is which treatment works best for whom." Prolonged Exposure helps individuals come to terms with the traumatic memories they fear and are trying to avoid thinking about. The more you face the fears, the less they frighten, and the more you can integrate what has happened into your life story. Relaxation therapy works on the principle that when you're anxious, your body tenses up, and the physical tenseness and agitation tell your brain you're nervous, increasing anxiety. Learning to relax your body also helps relax your mind. Finally, Interpersonal Psychotherapy focuses not on the trauma that triggered PTSD but on its aftereffects: on the detached feelings and mistrust of the environment and relationships that come with the disorder. So each treatment approaches PTSD in a very different way. Veterans in the greater New York area who are interested in the program can check the Columbia/NYSPI Web site (http://www.columbiatrauma.org/) or call Helena Rosenfeld at (212) 543-6747 for study screening. Other research treatment programs, involving Prolonged Exposure and medication for PTSD, are also available. |
 GAH Provider Spotlight: Barb DeLeone, in her own words
My father was a World War II vet, but he did not support my older brothers when they volunteered for Vietnam because he did not see the justification for that war or for the subsequent Gulf wars. They had high draft numbers so did not serve, nor have my children served. My dream is that all are drafted but are offered a choice between military service and humanitarian service. Two of my children have served through AmeriCorp, certainly not risking their lives, but serving nonetheless. Though I would not support many, if any wars, I accept them as a reality, and I certainly support those who serve, risking their lives for others.
The least I can do is put my money where my mouth is and support clients who have served by offering help with their marriage, career counseling, or PTSD recovery. I have appreciated getting to know my military clients and I really consider it a privilege to get to work with them. I have shown your GAH PowerPoint presentation to Warriors Journey Home, a group sponsored by our local Congregational Church. This group recently sponsored local Vietnam vets on a trip to Vietnam to revisit and heal. I joined the group at the church to welcome them home. I helped staff a GAH booth at two local Welcome Home events the past two summers. It is a joy to support veterans because they deserve support for all for the sacrifices they make.
The adage "War is Hell" has always seemed right on from all I have read my entire life. I read "Johnny Got His Gun" by Dalton Trumbo when I was 13 years old, and it reinforced for me at a young age that war should be the last resort always because of the human toll it takes. Politicians may say it is a last resort, but I have noticed that it rarely is. I believe that those who have not served have an obligation to support those who do serve in any way possible. At the first Gulf War started, I went to Washington, D.C., and held up my sign: "Support the Troops...Bring Them Home." That says it all for me: support our generous brothers and sisters and sons and daughters and support them in getting and remaining healthy to live productive lives.
--- Barbara C. DeLeone, MEd, CRC, PCC Give an Hour™ would like to thank Barb for her great suggestion to reach out to "Dear Abby" to highlight our services. We did just that and our letter was printed on April 19. The response has been tremendous. |
 Crisis Care Network Assists
Give an Hour™ Crisis Care Network is the largest provider of crisis response services to the workplace. CCN responds 1,000 times per month to deliver psychological first aid to employees impacted by tragedy, thereby facilitating individual and organizational resiliency and return to productivity. CCN is grateful for the sacrifices made by U.S. service men and women and has encouraged its network of nearly 6,000 behavioral health professionals to participate in support of them via Give an Hour™. |
 Veteran Author Donates Proceeds to
Give an Hour™
Female veteran and poetic author Charlie Palumbo has written The Face of a Memory: Emerging from the Military through Poetic Voice, an impressionistic memoir of her experience while serving in the Navy on the USS Chancellorsville in Yokosuka, Japan. Through her literary work, Charlie shares her journey to emotional and spiritual healing. In The Face of a Memory Charlie masterfully re- creates her emotional journey as a female service member grappling with the post-9/11 world. As the foreword of the book suggests, many service members have difficulty conveying their experiences of combat, or of the military in general, in counseling settings. To promote dialogue it is essential that service members are given ample time and space to allow their poignant stories to unfold. For Charlie, peace and understanding came through expressive arts therapy and creative lyrical prose.
In her words, "I am looking for a grassroots way to make a difference in the way we perceive the military, veterans, and issues surrounding mental health." To that end, she is generously donating 80 percent of the proceeds of her book to Give an Hour™. She has also been spreading the word about our services through her book, her Web site, and her contacts. We are grateful to Charlie.
To learn more about her or to purchase her book, please visit veteranartist.com.
|
 Study Seeks Military Members and Veterans Who Have Deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan
Researchers from the University at Albany-State University of New York are conducting a research study to understand the impact of combat deployment on a variety of behavioral health outcomes and would like to offer you the opportunity to participate. Your participation is completely voluntary and will take about 20 minutes of your time. This study will take place entirely online and is completely anonymous. Click on www.soldiertosoldier.net for more information. |
| VA Seeks Study Participants in NY and NJ
The study is asking for feedback from military family members like you. Participants will be asked to complete two brief surveys over a one-month period and may be asked to complete a one-hour training.
These sessions will be conducted entirely online from June 1 to June 6. No face-to-face meetings will be required.
If you are interested, please visit the site below and complete the short form:
https://kognito.wufoo.com/forms/families-of-returning-veterans-ptsd2.
This opportunity is limited to 120 adult family members, located in VISN 3.
Please forward this email to other family members of veterans who might be interested in joining this study as well.
For questions please contact Fiona@kognito.com or visit www.kognito.com.
|
 NC Chapter of NASW Partners with GAH, Hosts Barbara Van Dahlen
Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, founder and president
of Give an Hour™, gave a presentation about GAH to the Raleigh Professional Women's Association on May 12 in Raleigh, N.C.
Barbara was invited to speak by GAH provider and member of the Raleigh Professional Women's Association, Irene VanD Kennedy, LCSW.
Pictured from left to right are Erin Cashwell, Associate Executive Director of NASW-NC; Barbara Van Dahlen; Kathy Boyd, Executive Director, NASW-NC.
To learn more about NASW-NC, please visit http://www.naswnc.org |
 Cardinal Bank Hosts Reception for GAH On April 13, Cardinal Bank hosted a meet and greet reception for Give an Hour™ at their K Street branch in Washington, D.C.
Members of the bank's executive staff, including President Kate Carr, and members of GAH's board of directors and staff were able to mingle and network with special guests interested in learning more about Give an Hour™.
Pictured above, left to right: Kate Carr; Barbara Van Dahlen; and Randy Phelps, Deputy Executive Director, Practice Directorate, American Psychological Association Thank you, Ms. Carr and Cardinal Bank!
|
You may also make an online donation here: Donate to Give an Hour.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If you are a provider and considering
Unsubscribing,
please know that you will no longer be able to receive important communications from GAH to all providers. Please also know that we try very hard to keep our group e-mails to a minimum.
|
|
|
|
|
