my 228th ltte published today-supporting oif/oef vets with ptsd

[w8liftinglady]

feel free to rate it up and comment at site

http://www.thedailylight.com/articles/2010/01/26/opinion/doc4b5f27ff4f829058292741.txt
To the Editor,

It is almost nine years since the first troops were sent to the Middle East in Operation Enduring Freedom and later in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Since that time, American troops have deployed to these regions multiple times-three, four .. as many as seven times. As a result, 500,000 veterans of these wars have entered the VA system. The VA is finally acknowledging the fact that the effect of multiple deployments and daily combat on these troops has created an epidemic of PTSD that has been ignored until recently. The VA, after a class-action lawsuit ruling, has agreed to review thousands of previously denied and underrated claims for PTSD from OIF/OEF veterans.

There are many resources for veterans and their families to get them to the help they need. I’ll try to list as many as I can here, with some places to go for further help.

1. All OEF/OIF Vets should consider joining Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (http://iava.org/). They have their finger on the pulse of all recent legislation, health care,GI Bill benefits,and many other resources. They have many social networking sites that enable vets to talk with kindred spirits.

2.Battlemind is a program for warriors and their families put out by the U.S. Army (https://www.battlemind.army.mil/index.html). There are many online courses and links to programs for soldiers and their families to help them deal with the psychological/emotional issues associated with war.

3.The V.A. Suicide Prevention Hotline (http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/). The number is 1-800-273-8255. In one year, the hotline has helped 62,000 service members and their families.

4.PTSD/Combat-winning the war within-has an enormous amount of information for troops ... and especially for family members of affected veterans. (http://ptsdcombat.blogspot.com/).

Until our troops are home for good, it is critical that they receive expedited care as seamlessly as possible. Mental trauma is just as real as physical war wounds ... and can take so much longer to heal. Support our troops-continue to insist our legislators don't ignore them now that the elections are over.

[maglatinavi]

1. VETS

YESSSS!!! :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: