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.

Women Warriors: Celebrating International Women’s Month by Acknowledging Women Who Serve

By Chris Meek

As the co-founder and chairman of SoliderStrong, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans lead better lives, I often have the pleasure and privilege to speak with our vice chairwoman, U.S. Army Reserve Colonel Kim Moros, about her overwhelmingly positive experience as a woman in the military.

Kim recently pointed out to me that in honor of International Women’s Month, as we take the time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women in our society, we must also remember to acknowledge the many accomplishments of the women warriors in the United States military.

Our conversations have provided me with a new perspective on the women who serve our country and the vast importance of a growing female presence within the service. But as Kim noted, “recommending women to serve is not as challenging as convincing talented women to serve longer.”

Although nearly 20% of those in the U.S. Armed Services are women, they experience a lower retention rate than their male counterparts. There are a number of factors that contribute to women leaving the service and as the military places a continued emphasis on circumventing the reasons for female departures, it remains clear to me that it is important that as a society we acknowledge the many reasons that women join and ultimately stay in the service.

The military offers women professional development opportunities, the chance for travel and promotion, the ability to largely avoid the pay gap between genders, access to higher education and healthcare, experience leading diverse teams, both physically and mentally rewarding challenges and an environment conducive to cultivating a true and deeper sense of self-awareness. All of these positive experiences provide women with reasons to continue their service and eventually receive timely promotions, which Kim believes “will lead to our military witnessing a greater number of women than ever before serving at the executive level.”

Kim also placed an importance on just how vital female service members are to the U.S. National Security and that the result of losing women from our formation may “not only compromise end strength but decrease combat effectiveness in all areas.”

As a scholar who participated in the George W. Bush Institute’s Veteran Leadership Program, Kim’s project sought to collect valuable data surrounding the experiences of women serving in the military in order to identify the reasons for lower retention rates among women. Her project indicated to her that in order to address early female departures from the military, the Department of Defense should “create robust, intentional data-based outcome mentorship programs for all, but especially female service members, to impact retention and promotion rates.”

Though some women may experience mentor-like relationships during their time in the military, there are still many women who do not. Kim believes that mentorship programs could fill this gap and could result in greater retention and a greater number of women serving in roles at senior and executive levels. An abundance of existing data and research concludes that private companies with displays of diversity at the executive level are more competitive and encounter higher profits. The same principles could likely be applied to the military and could easily be achieved with the implementation of thoughtful mentorship programs.

In addition to mentorship programs for women, it occurred to me that as a society we must also do our part to position women not only as the next generation of fighters but, perhaps more importantly, as the next generation of leaders. We must instill in women from the time they are young that they can excel in senior leadership positions and that they already have a proven track record of doing so. Just take Kim, for example, who rose in the ranks to become a Colonel in the U.S. Army.

I feel honored to have opportunities to take part in discussions with female military members like Kim in order to learn more about inclusion in our military and expand on the appreciation that I have for our female service members. I hope this month everyone takes the time to find moments or opportunities to not only celebrate the contributions of our female service members but to find ways – both large and small – to contribute to a society that emboldens women not only to serve but to continue their service for years to come.

How We Can Protect Our Country’s Homeless Veteran Population During the Threat of COVID-19

By Chris Meek

In the weeks leading up to the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, I overheard several individuals mention that they were not overly concerned about our country’s homeless population in the face of the pandemic. As they put it, the homeless were “not as likely to get the virus,” based on the inaccurate notion that their living situation was already conducive to social distancing.

This was before we knew that the exact opposite is true: individuals who are homeless remain especially vulnerable to COVID-19.

As the co-founder and chairman of the national nonprofit SoldierStrong, an organization dedicated to helping veterans take their next steps forward into life after service through the donation of revolutionary medical technologies, I am especially concerned for veterans during this time, including those veterans who are currently homeless.

Not only do our homeless veterans remain at a high risk for contracting the virus, but donations of basic necessities to homeless shelters and food pantries have slowed down, fundraising efforts for local homeless veterans in many communities have discontinued, a number of walk-in clinics have scaled back their physical health services, and counseling – from mental health to employment- has been postponed for the time being. For the over 40,000 homeless veterans in the United States, these vital resources that they rely on to help get them back on their feet are now in jeopardy.

Furthermore, our homeless veterans often lack the supplies necessary to maintain good hygiene that are especially critical at this time. This includes soap, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. Though even if many homeless veterans did have access to these supplies, with the closure of most community centers and public spaces around the country it remains difficult for them to access running water in order to wash their hands properly.

Despite this, we must get creative in how we continue to provide critical physical and mental health services to homeless veterans during this time when many may need it most.

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has already begun distributing what they call Mobile Vet Centers to a handful of deeply affected cities across the country. These mobile resources are intended to make it easier to provide mental health counseling, outreach and care coordination to veterans throughout the duration of COVID-19’s spread.

Not only is this a valid step in reaching a large number of veterans in a safe manner to provide much-needed services, but the VA could consider using the Mobile Vet Centers to reach our homeless veteran population as well. Using mobile centers now could have the potential to set a precedent for how the VA reaches homeless veterans long after the effects of the pandemic have subsided.

Additionally, as our country’s leadership continues to ease regulations and cut red tape around telehealth services, perhaps there are ways to make these incredible resources more accessible to homeless veterans. We have seen many cities use vacant buildings and public spaces as shelters for the homeless since the onset of the pandemic. Hospitals and communities could work together to find ways to bring telehealth services to homeless veterans who are currently residing at such buildings, specifically to those buildings that already have access to Wi-Fi and computers that can be readily used to help facilitate the process.

We know that many homeless veterans suffer from mental health conditions, particularly post-traumatic stress, and would likely benefit from telehealth services now more than ever before.

I acknowledge that executing these ideas likely would take time and money that may not be readily available today. But I believe with our fighting American spirit and cunning creativity, we will find ways to continue to invest in our homeless veteran population. That process begins with opening an ongoing and honest dialogue, as well as not being afraid to bring forth any and all ideas that may make a difference.

In the meantime, I encourage those who can to find out how to safely donate to your local homeless shelter or food pantry today, especially supplies such as hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. Any steps we can take today have the potential to make all the difference for homeless veterans tomorrow.