Continuing Education After Service in the Military

By Chris Meek

In 2020 most Americans understand the potential benefits of pursuing a higher education – everything from earning a larger salary, to higher potential for employment, a tendency for deeper involvement in civic activities and better overall health in part due to financial security. The list goes on and on and has continually been imprinted in our minds by politicians, primary education instructors, media outlets and the like. With it, higher education brings some appealing opportunities for young adults. Though higher education may not be for everyone, it certainly provides its own set of additional opportunities for veterans as they return home from service and begin to transition – and ultimately adjust – to civilian life.

It’s not just veterans that benefit from the institutions in which they enroll. Veterans serve as assets to the schools they attend, bringing with them myriad unparalleled experiences and unique leadership characteristics from their time in service. Though negative myths have continually been perpetuated casting veterans as underwhelming academic performers in comparison to their civilian peers, it is no surprise that an abundance of research indicates what many members of the military community have figured all along – veterans excel in higher education classrooms and thrive in making the transition from the role of active duty service member to student. In fact, I would argue that pursuing an education can play a large role in a comfortable transition back into the civilian world.

The success and track record of student veterans underlines the need and importance of the $5 billion dollars in education benefits attributed to student veterans annually through the Department of Veterans Affairs’ G.I. Bill. Particularly in 2020, a year made tumultuous by the onset of the coronavirus pandemic which has affected our country’s higher education students in general, let alone the additional effects it has had on our student veterans.

In response to the extra difficulties placed on student veterans at this time, Congress extended a number of financial protections earlier this month that ensures the extension of work-study programs and leaves housing stipends unchanged. These are important steps in helping student veterans navigate these trying times. But even with these extensions, the G.I. Bill, which has benefitted nearly one million veterans in the past year, has historically not always relieved all of the costs associated with obtaining a degree. Textbooks, classroom fees, transportation, technology, tutoring and a number of other additional expenses come with higher education and are often not considered upfront when developing a general financial plan. This reality is only made more difficult for the many veterans who also work full or part-time to support their families and other financial obligations that are not typical of the average college student.

In response to these often difficult realities, a plethora of scholarship programs on both the local and national levels have formed to reduce the financial burdens that come with obtaining an education and make the transition into higher education easier for veterans. SoldierStrong, the nonprofit that I co-founded and serve as executive director for, is one such organization that provides scholarships through our SoldierScholar initiative. We assist veterans in taking an academic step into their future by filling in gaps left by the G.I. Bill. so that veterans can finish their college education in order to continue public service careers upon the conclusion of their military service. We are proud of the over $500,000 in scholarships we have been able to provide student veterans at Georgetown University, Old Dominion University and Syracuse University. We look forward to awarding more SoldierScholar scholarships this year to benefit veterans as they complete their academic journey.

U.S. Army veteran Edrena Roberts, a 2019 SoldierScholar recipient at Georgetown University, told me that receiving a SoldierScholar scholarship has given her “incredible peace of mind” and that it has helped make her “success a reality.” Roberts is currently receiving her Master of Professional Studies in Applied Intelligence and hopes to use her degree to someday work for the FBI as an analyst. It’s veterans like Roberts that prove why it is so important that organizations continue to provide access to higher education so that veterans can apply the leadership and problem-solving skills they developed in the military to their future careers, thus finding new ways to serve their communities and country.

To learn more about SoldierScholar, please visit us on the web: https://www.soldierstrong.org/scholarship/

Suicide Awareness Month: What We Can All Do To Make  A Difference

By Chris Meek

As the stigma surrounding mental health continues to lessen, more of an emphasis has been placed on suicide prevention and as a result a number of programs have emerged to varying degrees of success. But the fact remains that even with a wider array of prevention programs coupled with the allocation of $222 million by Congress to the VA to prevent suicide in the past decade, there are still 20 veteran suicides each day.

In my opinion, no program has been as far-reaching or all-encompassing as the recent President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS)  task force in the effort to prevent suicide, of which I serve as an advisor for alongside a number of esteemed peers. The PREVENTS task force established a definitive roadmap which specifically outlines a multitude of unambiguous steps that all Americans can take to prevent suicide. Suicide is a national public health problem that in turn requires a national approach to combatting.

The recommendations put forth by the PREVENTS task force cover a variety of topics and a lot of ground but in particular, I want to focus on what an approach looks like from the local level so that everyday Americans understand how they can participate and contribute to the prevention of suicide.

There are a number of states that have suicide prevention councils but a similar structure can be used to create councils that are specific to your community and the needs of your community’s citizens and veterans. Towns and cities across the country have put such councils in place composed of veterans, health care professionals, and faith and political leaders. This is a great resource to train the broader community about suicide and mental health, as well as coordinate outreach events, awareness campaigns and develop partnerships with local businesses and residents.

Having suicide prevention councils and other community specific organizations in place serve as sources for veterans to build a connection with their community which is paramount to maintaining good mental health. According to research conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, if individuals feel comfortable with their surroundings and feel a sense of belonging they are more likely to place a greater emphasis on maintaining overall health.

Suicide prevention councils can coordinate with local businesses and area employers about best practices for all employees, but particularly veterans, when it comes to preventing suicide. It is so much more than posting a suicide prevention poster in a shop window or making sure that employees have access to a suicide prevention hotline should they need it. Employers should be educated on the signs and symptoms of suicide and – this is the part that is often overlooked – educate their employees on these signs and symptoms as well. This has never before been more important than now as we wade through the current pandemic and many individuals are stressed about keeping their job, sending their children back to school and staying healthy so that they can continue to provide for their families.

I would also note that it is not only important for employers and companies to provide access to mental health care if they are able, but that it can be beneficial to also provide information about emergency services, religious leaders, veteran organizations, AA and substance abuse meetings and the nearest VA’s suicide prevention coordinator, to make a difference for employees who feel that they need access to additional services outside of traditional health care.

And, though the following strategy may not affect existing veterans, I do believe that more comprehensive mental health education can be introduced to children at a young age – either at home or especially in the classroom – as an added step to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and provide the next generation with the tools they need to manage their experiences and emotions. We can better prepare our children to monitor and pay attention to their mental health in a way that some of us were never taught. Local teachers, religious leaders, coaches and obviously parents can lead the way by taking simple steps, such as asking if a child is okay, truly meaning it and expecting an honest response back. Sometimes it is the little things that make the biggest difference.

I believe that the actions and steps we take on the local level are paramount to preventing suicide and I encourage anyone who is interested to learn more about initiatives and steps in your city or state. Additionally, the PREVENTS’ national public health campaign, REACH, is based on the idea that combatting veteran suicide is not just something that we all must do, but something we all must do together, by reaching out to one another and letting the people we care about know that they are not alone. I want to encourage everyone to head to https://www.wearewithinreach.net/pledge/ to learn more about REACH and take the PREVENTS pledge to reach today.

Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month: Let’s Commit to Raising Awareness About Effective Treatments

By Chris Meek

It has often been said that “not all wounds are visible.” This is especially true in reference to the struggles that so many face in regards to their mental health. June is National Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) Awareness Month. This month it is of particular importance to highlight the invisible wounds that post-traumatic stress leaves so many veterans with.

We know that symptoms of PTS have emerged in an unfortunate number of veterans. According to statistics, 12-24% of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom have experienced the effects of PTS, as have 12% of Gulf War veterans and an estimated 30% of Vietnam veterans.

PTS Awareness Month provides an opportunity to look inward to reflect on any “invisible” wounds we may bear. It’s also a good time to check-in on those closest to us who may be struggling. But sometimes that is easier said than done. As the stigma surrounding the discussion of mental health has decreased steadily in recent years, we have often been encouraged by experts, journalists, influencers, media and the like to check-in on others.

Sometimes this can be just as difficult as having to communicate to others how we are feeling. But it is necessary. The more we check-in on ourselves and others the easier and more comfortable the practice will become and the more likely it will become a habit.

Beyond checking in on ourselves and others and raising awareness about PTS throughout the month, I think it is important that we raise awareness about effective PTS treatments and technological advancements that have been made available.

One particularly effective and revolutionary advancement in the treatment of PTS in veterans that I would like to shine a light on is virtual reality therapy. I co-founded and serve as the chairman of SoldierStrong, a national nonprofit that works diligently to provide veterans grappling with PTS access to virtual reality therapy technology through the BraveMind program.

Virtual reality can be used to deliver prolonged exposure therapy – the practice of recalling a traumatic memory while talking through the nuances of that memory with a therapist – an evidence-based method for treating PTS. Utilizing virtual reality to deliver prolonged exposure therapy makes the process of recalling traumatic memories easier for veterans. To date, the BraveMind hardware and software has been donated to 13 VA Hospitals and other medical centers across the country, allowing a considerable number of veterans access to the revolutionary PTS treatment.

There are of course a number of treatment methods for PTS, as additional research is continually being conducted to provide new methods of treatment and improve the delivery of already existing treatments. It is important that veterans are aware of all of their options and that they have access to the resources that may be available in their area. The more options in treatment that veterans have access to, the more likely they will find the best method of treatment for them.                                                                    

I implore everyone to take time this month to discover more about current treatment options for PTS and what methods may be available to you or your loved ones. If you would like to learn more about virtual reality to treat PTS, please visit SoldierStrong on the web.

How Are You Taking Care of Your Emotional Well-Being During Mental Health Awareness Month?

By Chris Meek

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Normally local events and in-person initiatives and screenings would take place throughout the country all month long in an effort to lessen the stigma surrounding mental health and provide much-needed resources. After all, our mental health is ultimately a vital aspect of our physical health.

Though in-person events may look different or may not be permissible in your state this month, it is still important that we use this time to reflect on our mental health and emotional well-being. This is especially true now, more than ever, as we wade through unprecedented times as a result of the pandemic.

Many veterans have found creative ways to maintain their stress, take their mind off of current uncertainties and to use it as an outlet for any pent-up emotions they may be experiencing. This includes everything from painting, bike riding, and knitting, to reading, cleaning and baking.

No matter what may ease your mind, it is important that as we move forward, we are able to identify what works the best for us and engage in those activities whenever feelings of stress, anxiety or depression arise.

Beyond that I think it’s important that as we continue to check-in with ourselves and others, we are able to openly talk about mental health in a manner that is helpful and productive. One way to do this is to share what activities have worked for you to manage stress in order to provide ideas that may prove useful to others and to continue a constructive dialogue.

In the spirit of sharing, I have found that running on the treadmill several times a week has not only proven to be effective for maintaining my mental health, but also has had a positive impact on my heart, body and overall physical health.

In fact, running has been so effective for me that I started an event on the Facebook page of my non-profit ReachStrong, called BrainHealth Run, where I invite others to join me on a virtual run three times a week as a way to de-stress, nurture our mental health and to incite candid discussion about mental health related topics as we workout. (For those who are interested, you can follow along on our virtual BrainHealth Run on the ReachStrong Facebook page here).

There are also a plethora of other virtual activities that are currently made available to veterans. This includes everything from virtual yoga and meditation sessions that utilize military approved practices to treat trauma, all the way to self-care workshops for veterans covering topics ranging from mental health to employment counseling. And of course, telehealth mental health services have been made widely available and remain an effective option for many who seek one-on-one guidance. Any of these services could prove to have a positive impact on mental health and may be worth checking out for those who are seeking additional mental health resources at this time. Best of all, you can easily find more information about these resources through a quick Google search.

Let’s empower one another this month to become more in-tune with our individual mental health needs and make more time for the activities that have a positive impact in our lives. And remember, we don’t have to stop these activities once the pandemic ends. We can and should engage in them for as long as they continue to have a positive impact on our mental health.