CHICAGO - CITY COUNCIL HEARING
VETERAN PTSD & SUICIDE
FEBRUARY 19, 2014
VETERAN PTSD & SUICIDE
FEBRUARY 19, 2014
After more than a decade of war, and too many physically, emotionally and psychologically exhausting deployments, it is our moral obligation as a society to hold nothing but the highest standard of tangible and meaningful care for our returning, and aging, Veterans.
Tangible, in the sense, that we constantly push ourselves to innovate new and effective ways to engage with them. Meaningful, in the sense, that we listen to every single one of them, providing them immediately with the information, guidance or treatment they - and their families - deserve.
It is the very least we can do as civilians to show sincere gratitude for those who fought abroad, only to come home and fight a war internally, alone.
Be it shell shock, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety or depression; research shows, that successful antidotes are effective community engagement and lifelong self-compassion; the antidotes to suicide are personal meaning and camaraderie.
We have the Nation’s 3rd largest city, we have the infrastructure and the visibility, and with the Committee’s good consideration and help, we have the leverage to work together as a community to implement new and cost-effective ways to help our Veterans.
First, we use the Nation’s “Best Urban Public Library System” to establish a city-sponsored Chicago Veterans Network [EXAMPLE] connecting every Veteran within the city. The library system would serve as the central point of validation, re-emphasizing every library’s original purpose as an objective, quality-driven public information center. Any employment toward the creation and improvement of the network would be prioritized toward unemployed and under-employed Veterans. [EXAMPLE]
The swift implementation of such a network is essential. If any community is to show seriousness toward helping its Veterans, then that community must constantly devise effective ways to help every single one of them. It is irrational to believe that any community leadership can be effective without first knowing the pulse of their Veterans, and providing every single one of them with an equal option to voice their frustrations and needs.
Second, in order for all Veterans to access the network, it is essential that we work together and guarantee each of them with the basic mobile technology and access they need; customized accounts are possible, providing every Veteran with proactive information on local groups, community services or treatments they may want or need.
Matching military-skills to civilian employment within such a network is possible. Matching volunteer help to our aging Veterans as well.
Just as important, matching vets-to-pets is possible, providing service dogs or companionship to rescued animals in need. Studies have shown that dogs can have a positive effect on preventing Veterans’ high-risk of heart disease, as well as provide a loving, safe companion during dark times in the lonely corridors of PTSD.
Effective treatments such as Cognitive Processing Therapy , Prolonged Exposure Therapy , Neurofeedback (NF) – or the VA’s new mobile PTSD Coach Online or Virtual Reality (VR) therapy – should equally and immediately be known to every Veteran as soon as such validated treatments or quality mobile applications are released.
Last, as avenue toward camaraderie and personal meaning, we utilize one of the Nation's best urban park districts to establish the first-ever Chicago-hosted Veteran Olympic Games, in collaboration with surrounding towns and counties [EXAMPLE]. Utilize the Veterans’ network to ask our warriors what sports they would like to see. Have citizens and businesses donate toward individuals and teams, rewarding Veterans competing in amateur tournaments locally, regionally or nationally.
Give Chicagoland for-profit and non-profit organizations a chance to work together for their Veterans; promoting high-quality athletic events, a job fair, Veteran art and music, a health and fitness expo [EXAMPLE], as well as housing, financial or legal assistance [EXAMPLE]; bringing further good reason for tourists to come to Chicago for the Games and prioritizing contract employment toward our Veterans in need.
If PTSD and exposure to chronic stress are linked to long-lasting changes within the brain, then it is vital that we work together creatively to help re-wire our soldiers toward a Life of happiness, success, meaning and integrity.
As their American Family, we must forever let our soldiers know we appreciate and love them. If they are down, we must remind them to hold their heads up high today, and everyday, so they continue to provide the positive leadership we all need for tomorrow.
As a modern society we are fortunate to have inherited mobile technology and tools, with the leverage of the City Council’s help, may we all cooperate in good will for our Veterans and their families.
Kevin Lewis
Chicago - Resident & Civilian
AltruistParty.org
Tangible, in the sense, that we constantly push ourselves to innovate new and effective ways to engage with them. Meaningful, in the sense, that we listen to every single one of them, providing them immediately with the information, guidance or treatment they - and their families - deserve.
It is the very least we can do as civilians to show sincere gratitude for those who fought abroad, only to come home and fight a war internally, alone.
Be it shell shock, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety or depression; research shows, that successful antidotes are effective community engagement and lifelong self-compassion; the antidotes to suicide are personal meaning and camaraderie.
We have the Nation’s 3rd largest city, we have the infrastructure and the visibility, and with the Committee’s good consideration and help, we have the leverage to work together as a community to implement new and cost-effective ways to help our Veterans.
First, we use the Nation’s “Best Urban Public Library System” to establish a city-sponsored Chicago Veterans Network [EXAMPLE] connecting every Veteran within the city. The library system would serve as the central point of validation, re-emphasizing every library’s original purpose as an objective, quality-driven public information center. Any employment toward the creation and improvement of the network would be prioritized toward unemployed and under-employed Veterans. [EXAMPLE]
The swift implementation of such a network is essential. If any community is to show seriousness toward helping its Veterans, then that community must constantly devise effective ways to help every single one of them. It is irrational to believe that any community leadership can be effective without first knowing the pulse of their Veterans, and providing every single one of them with an equal option to voice their frustrations and needs.
Second, in order for all Veterans to access the network, it is essential that we work together and guarantee each of them with the basic mobile technology and access they need; customized accounts are possible, providing every Veteran with proactive information on local groups, community services or treatments they may want or need.
Matching military-skills to civilian employment within such a network is possible. Matching volunteer help to our aging Veterans as well.
Just as important, matching vets-to-pets is possible, providing service dogs or companionship to rescued animals in need. Studies have shown that dogs can have a positive effect on preventing Veterans’ high-risk of heart disease, as well as provide a loving, safe companion during dark times in the lonely corridors of PTSD.
Effective treatments such as Cognitive Processing Therapy , Prolonged Exposure Therapy , Neurofeedback (NF) – or the VA’s new mobile PTSD Coach Online or Virtual Reality (VR) therapy – should equally and immediately be known to every Veteran as soon as such validated treatments or quality mobile applications are released.
Last, as avenue toward camaraderie and personal meaning, we utilize one of the Nation's best urban park districts to establish the first-ever Chicago-hosted Veteran Olympic Games, in collaboration with surrounding towns and counties [EXAMPLE]. Utilize the Veterans’ network to ask our warriors what sports they would like to see. Have citizens and businesses donate toward individuals and teams, rewarding Veterans competing in amateur tournaments locally, regionally or nationally.
Give Chicagoland for-profit and non-profit organizations a chance to work together for their Veterans; promoting high-quality athletic events, a job fair, Veteran art and music, a health and fitness expo [EXAMPLE], as well as housing, financial or legal assistance [EXAMPLE]; bringing further good reason for tourists to come to Chicago for the Games and prioritizing contract employment toward our Veterans in need.
If PTSD and exposure to chronic stress are linked to long-lasting changes within the brain, then it is vital that we work together creatively to help re-wire our soldiers toward a Life of happiness, success, meaning and integrity.
As their American Family, we must forever let our soldiers know we appreciate and love them. If they are down, we must remind them to hold their heads up high today, and everyday, so they continue to provide the positive leadership we all need for tomorrow.
As a modern society we are fortunate to have inherited mobile technology and tools, with the leverage of the City Council’s help, may we all cooperate in good will for our Veterans and their families.
Kevin Lewis
Chicago - Resident & Civilian
AltruistParty.org