Veteran’s Day: What does “healthy veterans, happy families” mean?
Today is Veteran’s Day, and I’m extremely proud to announce that today we launched our new “Healthy veterans, happy families.” campaign to raise funds for Give an Hour. Give an Hour is an amazing non-profit organization which asks mental health professionals to literally donate one hour of their time to veterans and their families. Many times, parents, siblings, and loved ones do not qualify for the same kind of support services offered to veterans by the government, but their needs are just as important. We’re donating ten percent of every app sold in the month of November. If you’re interested in learning more, click the banner above or go here.
When our servicemen and women return home, it may seem like the war is over for them, at least for now (over a quarter of our military personnel have been deployed more than once). Yet many of our veterans bear wounds which cannot be seen by the naked eye. They manifest in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and panic attacks, anger, apathy, and more. Moreover, it’s not just the veterans themselves which suffer from deployment–their families, friends, and loved ones all suffer in turn. This is why it’s so important to recognize (article via the Deseret News) the incredible burden which our servicemembers, their families, and communities must bear.
How do PTSD and other post-battle disorders affect our veterans?
One RAND study in 2008 concluded that one in five veterans returning from Iraq or Afghanistan suffer from PTSD or Major Depression. RAND also concluded in similar studies that only 43% of returning veterans report being seen by a physician to evaluate traumatic head injuries, with only 53% of veterans seeking help in the following year. The government is doing its best to meet the needs of our veterans and their families, but they’re stretched thin and simply cannot cope with the massive demand.
Furthermore, seeking help for these kinds of psychological and emotional problems is often looked on as a sign of weakness in military culture. Thousands of servicemen and women stay silent rather than facing the fear of humiliation and embarrassment at the hands of their peers. Some believe that what they say may be communicated up their chain of command and affect their military career. As a result, our nation has thousands of these “walking wounded”, not only from our current conflicts but also from previous ones (most notably our shunned Vietnam War veterans) who desperately require help but feel they have nowhere to turn.
How do PTSD and other post-battle disorders affect families and communities?
When our veterans do not get the help they need, their inner problems often manifest in anger, sadness, apathy, and self-destructive behavior. Friendships, relationships, marriages, and families are all strained–sometimes to the point of breaking. In some military families both parents are being deployed, leaving their children in the care of others. Veterans are losing their jobs, their homes, and the people in their life which matter the most. Some turn to substance abuse, violence, and crime as an outlet for their negative emotions.
What is being done to help?
There are numerous methods being used help our returning veterans both identify and treat PTSD, depression, and similar conditions. Saagara being about holistic health and wellness, I’d like to focus on the alternative approaches being studied and used by not just private professionals, but also government entities like the Department of Defense, the US Army, and other institutions.
According to this article on the Harvard Mental Health Letter, Walter Reed hospital is embracing the yoga tradition of deep relaxation as an alternative addition to PTSD treatment. Moreover, the government has completed and is currently recruiting for studies on yoga and PTSD. According to the same Harvard publication, a study conducted using the Sudarshan Kriya yoga (SKY) style of cyclical breathing 30 minutes a day, six days a week yielded very positive results in comparison to other standard treatment methods. The study also suggested the potential for breathing techniques to be useful in treating depression and for treating recovering alcoholics.
You can help.
Here are the ways you can help:
- Buy/Gift the App. Simply put, every app sold results in a charitable donation. If you or someone you know would really enjoy our app, then pick one up. The app is available for iPhone/iTouch, iPad, Android, and via our website. Or if you’d prefer, you can donate directly to Give an Hour.
- Spread the word. Share the link to this blog post, or the link to the Veteran’s Day page, with up to five people in your address book. We’re very committed to raising as much money as we can, but we can’t do it without your help!
- Learn more. Visit our Veteran’s Day page, and learn more about “Happier veterans, healthier families.”
- Join us! Are you interested in joining Saagara and Give an Hour to raise money and awareness? We’re looking for partners! Please contact Saagara’s Director of Marketing Mike Newton ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) for more information about joining the partnership.
All the links to your favorite social media sites are at the bottom of this post, please use them to tell your friends! Finally, a big thank you to all of the men and women who have ever worn a uniform or served on behalf of this country.
Charity
