Supporting Our Veterans with More Than A Salute

Around Fairfield

Supporting Our Veterans with More Than A Salute!

By Jackie Devine

Photo: L to R: Alex Yutzey, speaker; Bill Page, Classic Adults program coordinator, Ken Schlenker, chaplin.

Most of us who have lived in the Houston region for some time have heard of Camp Hope and the PTSD Foundation of America. But many of us have never had the opportunity to meet someone who has benefited from the program and is willing to share their experiences. Lucky for members of Good Shepherd's Classic Adults, on Monday, November 7th, they had the incredible opportunity to meet Alex Yutzey, program manager, and learn about what Camp Hope is all about and how it changed the trajectory of his life. To put things into perspective, there are just under 20 million veterans nationwide, and every day, according to American Warrior’s Partnership’s Operation Deep Dive™ study, approximately 24 veterans take their own life by suicide each day. Additionally, 20 veterans die per day by Self-Injury Mortality (SIM), or deaths ruled “accidental” or “undetermined” in nature but consistent with self-harm/suicidal behavior. The data shows that 80% of these deaths are due to overdose. With SIM deaths included, the “true” suicide rate among former service members is 44 per day–2.4 times greater than VA statistics previously reported. The number of Veterans with PTSD varies by service era, as reflected by findings of the PTSD: National Center for PTSD: • Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF): About 11-20 out of every 100 Veterans (or between 11-20%) who served in OIF or OEF have PTSD in a given year. • Gulf War (Desert Storm): About 12 out of every 100 Gulf War Veterans (or 12%) have PTSD in a given year. • Vietnam War: About 15 out of every 100 Vietnam Veterans (or 15%) were currently diagnosed with PTSD at the time of the most recent study in the late 1980s, the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS). It is estimated that about 30 out of every 100 (or 30%) of Vietnam Veterans have had PTSD in their lifetime. Since Bill White, the 60th mayor of Houston, was in office, Houston has been a veteran-friendly city. His administration assisted in building a database to connect veterans to local nonprofits, veteran organizations, faith-based charities, corporate recruiters, and other coalition members. He urged citizens to become mentors to returning veterans, to help them find resources, navigate bureaucratic red tape, and respond to veteran requests in 24 hours, if possible. He dreamed, "One by one with mentors and hope, (we can) take them under our wings and express our gratitude as a nation." The PTSD Foundation of America and it’s residential facility Camp Hope have gone way beyond that ideal. Today, Houston has become the number one spot in the country for veterans. Camp Hope, a peerto-peer organization and the residential arm of the PTSD Foundation, serves combat veterans and their families (at no cost) of all branches of the military and every era of war—some of which have been medicating for decades and in the case of Vietnam Vets, that’s five decades. The program provides a safe space for the victims of trauma and posttraumatic stress in which to experience healing where they are taught about PTSD, what it is, and how it has rewired their brain, taught how to cope with it going forward. Then they learn new skill sets dealing with future challenges. Participants are further supported with housing options and transportation and even encouraged to return to school to earn more income. To give us an up-and-personal look at the program, Alex shared his journey and the path that led him from Florida to Texas. A story, he said, that mirrors the plight of many who have successfully survived the program and become happy, productive citizens. He also explained that awareness is one of their biggest challenges at this time, helping them get the word out that they are here in Houston. It is customary for family to contact Camp Hope after a loved one becomes a statistic. And while they are happy to help them navigate the VA and opportunities for their families to get benefits, they want to reach that veteran before they become a statistic. “We want to catch that veteran before that critical juncture. We also wish every family member knows that the organization is here, on their side, and everything is free,” Alex explains. As wonderful as this organizations, like any nonprofit, it takes money to operate. All of their services take money to operate. It costs money to turn the lights on, transport veterans to the VA, or move them from Florida, Georgia, or wherever they live. Plus, they need boots on the ground; we always need volunteers and supporters to serve our vets. Contact the PTSD Foundation of America and Camp Hope at www. ptsdUSA.org to get information on how to help a loved-one or to see how you can be of service.