Healing Invisible Wounds: The perpetual push to faux philanthropy
There has to be a stronger pushback by veterans concerning all these people who are stereotyping veterans as damaged people. I wish I had a more effective way of expressing all the ways these kinds of articles and organizations are pimping out a false belief for money and attention.
With many veterans not receiving the mental health care they need, and alarming numbers committing suicide, private funders have been stepping up. We check in on an initiative to help veterans that involves tens of millions of dollars in new grant money for research.
This homeless 101st Airborne 11 Bravo combat soldier with PTSD is so damaged by his service to this country that we need to help. Using these kinds of pictures reminds me of those adopt a puppy commercials where they show some poor sad looking puppy that needs a home.
With the help of its four academic medical center partner programs—UCLA, Emory Healthcare, Massachusetts General Hospital and Rush University Medical Center—Warrior Care Network provides a year’s worth of mental health care in intensive two- to three-week programs. Each of these programs is receiving a chunk of the $160 million, funds raised from the wide range of institutional and individual donors that support WWP
Really? $160,000,000 for me to with my mental health?
A Desperate Need
The Department of Defense’s own Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center reports that more 380,000 service people have sustained traumatic brain injuries. Statistics from the Department of Veterans Affairs reveal that 20 veterans die by suicide every day.
In 2008, RAND estimated nearly 20 percent of military service members who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression. “The need for services and support continues to grow exponentially even as the numbers of killed and wounded decline, and the public’s interest and involvement wanes,” WWP said at the time.
Yet ten years later, the Veterans Administration is falling short when it comes to addressing such issues as brain injuries, stress disorders, depression, and suicide. Far too many vets survive battle overseas only to lose battles with their inner demons back at home.
How do I state my opinion of this? Hmm… No, there are not 380,000 service people that have sustained traumatic brain injuries, 20 veterans do not die by suicide every day and 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans do not have PTSD and/or major depression.
If they do not make the VA out to be the antagonist then how will they raise money? The VA has been doing an outstanding job. They are not faultless of course, but the VA would make sure this poor homeless Army Vet in the picture got off the streets and had a meal.
It costs next to nothing to walk his ass to the VA.
Source: Healing Invisible Wounds: A Look at a Major Push on Veteran’s Mental Health — Inside Philanthropy
Category: Dumbass Bullshit, Exploitation, Health Care debate, Politics
I need a new mini-leash for my emotional support therapy chipmunk named Chippy.
Any orgs out there that can help me?
Not yet, but give us a couple of hours. We need to write some PSAs, hire a few execs, and line up some subsidized housing to support the acquisition of the leash that you need. Then you can file the appropriate paperwork to get it. After we line up a few celebs to do some fund raising.
Don’t expect to see the leash for a few years. I need get that mansion in the Caribbean before we shut down the leash acquisition enterprise.
(Really? I need to add the /sarc?)
Ok thanks.
‘Till then I will use a boot lace from my jungle boots I used in the Global War for Terrorism at the Battle of MRE Digestion and Clogged Diesel Lines.
It was a long fight.
How about I make you one out of gimp if it’s still available.
550 cord, paratroopers gift to mankind.
Yep, just drop by the supply room and I’ll fix you up. Gotta couple on hand right now. They are:
FSN 3770-171-1258 Leash, Five(5) Foot
FSN 3770-171-1256 Leash, 30 Foot
But be advised, they are a Non-Expendable Property Book Item. so I’ll have to make you sign a Hand Receipt./smile
He’ll bring it back after the squirrel dies. You probably should hope that it is of natural causes…
Support chipmunk? Heck, I want an emotional support snow leopard– he’ll keep away annoying left/libtard hippie idiots.
Always wanted a pet bobcat. Put a sign in the yard: “Beware of cat. Don’t worry about the dog”.
Anyone else wondering PVT Manning has a support hamster or more appropriately a gerbil. I am thinking Berg-boi definitely has a support gerbil to remind him of his days in the boy hareem of his Taliban captors.
Great more put downs for the welfare system known as the VA. Glad I no longer consider myself a vet but just a civilian employee of the government. Very low paid civilian. Wonder what the govt will think up of to replace the inefficient VA system as most are like congress, sit on their ass and think up ways to put more money in their pockets
I’m SC for a few things. Of those are PTSD , and MDD. When I got discharged with disability severance In 07 for a heart condition. the VA contacted me right away. I’ve had some bumps in the road with VA along the way. But they’ve always been resolved quickly and never has there been any access issue. I’ve been seen on a regular basis and always have access to groups and therapy , and if I need to reach out to my providers o secure message them through myhealthevet . It’s been said that of all veterans who commit suicide 75 percent have not reached out to VA for help. I hit a real low spot in 2012. I won’t go into specifics , but VA was there.and I’m grateful for that. But VA alone won’t help if you don’t reach out. I’m all for public and private options but don’t. Believe that it’s right for some “ charities “ to see dollar signs and turn mental health issues from guys like me into a cottage industry.
Not right. Sorry.
Exactly, they have been exploiting us. Any criticism of them doing it is generally met with “PTSD is real” and “22 a day” chants. As if we don’t know that PTSD is real and even one veteran suicide is one too many.
Life happens and it sucks from time to time.
I get all kinds of shit for taking cardboard signs on a regular basis.
I’m glad you see the need for veterans to push back on the damaged veteran stereotype. My take on it is that there is this idea floating around that ptsd equals mental cripple. Even with the severe issues I have to contend with I don’t see myself that way. Mental cripples are not the ones putting in the work , coming face to face with very unpleasant and sometimes scary things we would rather stuff down but we choose to try and. Deal with them. One of the goals of therapy is to get someone to see that they are not damaged. And that no matter how bad you got it. , life has meaning. You want to be mentally crippled. The all we have to do is either stop putting in the work or not choose to start at all and listen to the “ you poor pitiful thing” crowd who would rather have us believe that we are victims and not survivors. That diet of self pity is enough to suck the life out of anybody.
When I thought I was a Vet I tried twice (many long years ago, early 70’s mid 80’s) and never found any help as to VA or DVA or other veterans organizations, was part of scum of the earth back then. In 2004 tried Denver VA and after 1 1/2 years was told to try Cheyenne and was selected in 2006, help was ok as most was teleconference, were some things said in those that were somewhat strange but oh well. In fall 2018 went to info meeting from Cheyenne as to up dates, while there was encouraged to file for registration as to PTSD and A/O so started process (I figured would once again be told to stand fully dressed and turn around as to that exam in 2006). Received call for scheduled hearing test 100 miles out of town, called again prior to test by Dr. asked few questions over phone and Dr. cancelled test at clinic. Called again as to mental health test, again 100 miles out of town at different location. Went to this appt and was again asked some strange questions and strange answers. Then was told at end of interview that their files only showed 4 years service and no over seas. Stewed a couple days and after a couple calls was told to call DVA. Yes was verified there that record shows only a little over 4 years service, upon inquiry they spent a few minute and found an older DD-214 of prior service and excuse of they only ck last DD-214 to verify minimum of 2 years service and lower column same area as to out of country they would correct file and mail receipt of correction. What a waste of time on my part, 3 weeks no verification, 3 weeks for records request by VET rep as to archives paperwork and since returned ID still waiting on its return as promised. Am I a VET, not in my mind as was in neither of the branches of Navy nor was I National Guard. Those are the proffered branches served by the… Read more »
I’m service connected for….a LOT of things. I’m maintain a regular quality of life and use the VA as an augment of Tricare. Never had a HUGE problem with it, but i’ve only been retired for 2 years. Is PTSD real? Of course. Just like Generalized Anxiety and a host of other mental issues. Do too many people attempt to milk the cash cow? Naturally. The rub comes when people look at a disabled vet as some sort of ‘broken thing’ that needs to be coddled and cared after constantly. How often do we see in TV and movies the ‘homeless vet’ who is still living in his service coat and boots, getting meals at a shelter because he has no where else to go? Much like Dave, i’ve snatched my share of signs on a regular because too many damn people are suckering well meaning folks. Since when did serving become such a pitiable profession?
I hear you loud and clear, brother!
The whole “veteran-as-victim” cliché is one of the most pernicious myths that exists in popular culture today. It is condescension and stereotyping that masquerade as “compassion.”
Never seen anybody with a legitimate need not get help when they asked for it.
Help save the ———–(insert exploitable cause here).
You nailed it Dave. I would say that 96.69% of these “commercial charities” are just semi scams to enrich the bank accounts of the people running the “charities.”
Apparently you were not there in the 60 and 70’s and a returning VET, due to WWI, WWII and Korean Vets, VFW and Legion slammed doors to VNV but Legion accepted non VNV, DVA and VA only accepted those that returned who were severely injured. It was sometime in the 80’s they were starting to be accepted by all but was limited and only select branches as they needed to bolster their ranks due to loss of older membership. Despite this easing of entry by these organizations, many of these new members were still treated as trash and losers.
I would like someone to start a GoFundMe for bacon and beef for me. Bacon, beef and potatoes. And carrots. Gotta have carrots and I need potatoes… and onions…. and a Cuisinart, and a new dishwasher, preferably one that uses a flour sacking towel to dry the plates.
Mmmmmm bacon
I had bacon and eggs for breakfast with extra bacon and bacon flavored vodka with a splash of OJ.
Mmmmmmm vodka
Vodka ain’t just for breakfast anymore either!
And on the 8th day, God created bacon. Way to go Big Guy!
A lot of Veterans will not push back because they want their free shit.
Seems I see more combat service, service support all of those free hunts and fishing trips.
I get what your saying but there are combat and Combat service support who went through a lot as well. I was a truck driver supporting SF when Iraq kicked off. It was hairy to say the least. I guess I would depend on what the situation was . But I agree with you. I’m wary of those who want free this and free that after all wasn’t Shane Ladner busted because after a train accident while he was getting a free hunt ?
I’m a physician assistant in urology. When I started with the civilian practice after my active duty time, the urologist who hired me, treated me like I was broken. It took me a year to convince him that I’m fine as are most vets. He know understands the are a lot of scammers out there. I’m also sick and tired of the veteran is a victim mentality
This is way out of my lane, so I’ll just say something stupid and move on…
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the National Institute for Mental Health 20% of all Americans suffer from some form of mental illness based on treatment numbers. Consequently that 1 out of 5 for veterans might include those who were suffering from some sort of mental illness undiagnosed before they entered their service and are now seeing symptomatic increase as they age and experience military life.
One thing is still true in the country, mental illness is a semi-taboo discussion area because of all the negative connotations associated with having a mental illness. We don’t think anything of people with hypertension which is often a self inflicted illness or people with bad thyroids requiring daily meds, but we hold a far different view of those needing meds to maintain proper brain chemistry.
Our society is nothing if not full of contradictory moral, ethical, and societal opinions. I think mental illness is uncomfortable precisely because if you don’t have it, it’s terribly hard to understand it in others because you don’t really see it.
Being a happy go-lucky optimist I have no understanding at all of why people with depression can’t simply go sailing to make themselves feel better, or have a drink and watch the sunset on the ocean and smile with the simple joy of nature in all its beauty. Just because I don’t understand it though doesn’t make it less real for those poor bastards who have it. It simply means it’s not easily comprehensible for me.
Blaming the VA is wrong, but we are all well aware of previous cases where the VA failed rather visibly in providing proper treatment. Perhaps WWP and those other organizations could approach the fund raising from the perspective of adding another option in addition to the VA’s treatment options to provide accessible care to those in outlying areas where VA options are far more limited. That would be something that most Americans should find easy to support.
You are hardly alone with most if not all of your view of things mental illness related. Have long struggled with exactly what you articulate myself because I have know scads of people diagnosed with some form of mental illness who, in my opinion, might be better served if they were just given permission to go out and do something instead of being encouraged to hang onto their victimhood. I am of the opinion that while there are certainly folks out there who need to take pills and/or meet with a group regularly that too many of those who do so should be moved along into real life much sooner than they are.
The mental health profession is typically no more certain than any of us exactly what sequence of events will result in any individual attaining a healthy lifestyle. Too many variable such as what exactly is a healthy lifestyle anyway? And how in the wide world could any of us recognize it in another human being? Much easier to take pills and become tranquil artificially. Or become dependent upon other folks who happily make decisions for you.
VoV:
Agree with what you wrote, so if you are “stupid”, then I am as well.
We’re certainly deplorables in our own little basket…
You’re gonna need a bigger basket.
Years ago I was told that all Viet of the Nam vets were nuts. This was a liberal who said this of course. It was before it was popular to be a veteran. Seems like people are now starting to label recent vets as mentally ill more.
Thank John Kerry for that reputation. He and his group interviewed hundreds of guys over a weekend, amassing an impressive history of combat vets who committed atrocities of varying atrociousness! He testified before a Congressional committee that we were to one degree or another murderers, rapists, drug addicts and emotionally damaged. Turns out very few of the combat vets he interviewed were combat vets. Most never got to a combat zone, many never got to Vietnam and some were never in the military. None were vetted. He was glad to portray us as moral detectives because it got his political career going quickly. There were atrocities of course, as there are in every war. But Kerry labeled us in a public and dishonest fashion for which he has never truly apologized.
My 11B two Iraq deployments 16 years in service son says he is pissed at the number of veterans who go after free shit. He was in much more bad stuff in Iraq than I ever thought about in Vietnam. The problem is not only the BS “We’re here to help the men and women who guarantee our freedoms” civilians, but also vets willing to take freebies offered. I get pissed every Memorial Day and Veterans Day with the 10% off for veterans restaurants and advertised sales. Those people do not realize the role they play in stigmatizing us.
SgtBob:
Am grateful for those businesses that offer a “Military” discount, whether they be a franchise or a local Mom & Pop shop.
Those same businesses also offer “discounts” to First Responders. Some restaurants even provide free meals to First Responders as a way to say “Thank You.”
Have yet to go to our local Golden Corral for a free meal on Veteran’s Day…and 99.99% sure I will never partake in their generous offer. If other Veterans do, that is their choice.
I commend your honesty on yours and your son’s feelings. Please remember that when your son was deployed, he was drawing a tax free income based on his time in a combat zone (combat pay excluded from Federal Taxes).
I always appreciate the “military” discount, but I don’t seek it out or demand it. Won’t go near any restaurant on free vet meal days, I’m allergic to crowds and bullshit. I know other vets that love the free meals. To each his own. My little piece of PTSD is successfully managed by MRS D and myself.
I don’t do the discounts either…except for the Class VI store…LOL
Class VI has a discount? Well chit, I’m outtahere….
The source of the picture that accomodates the article:
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/new-york-nyjuly-2018-homeless-veteran-1139533265
What the photographer wrote:
“NEW YORK, NY-JULY 2018: A homeless veteran looks for help on a sidewalk in the Soho section of Manhattan.”
What the NY Harbor Veteran Affairs offers for the Homeless in their area:
https://www.nyharbor.va.gov/services/homeless/index.asp
Just more proof the article is bunk. If the author of the story cannot interview and photograph a proven combat veteran with PTSD/brain trauma from an explosion who is homeless, you have confirmed my suspicion this is more media bullshit/fundraising propaganda. Same bullshit but different source.
Like I said, in the first place, when the Vets came back from VN, all Vet organizations avoided them like the plague. Now the only thing they are needed for is body count to fill their ranks to keep them in existence, otherwise are still of no use.
This article is nothing but more of the “combat veterans of war are mentally damaged” media bullshit that started with anti-Vietnam war propaganda. Now they have just left of the “drug addicted” meme because it is cool to do drugs. This is merely the latest version put out by the propaganda arms of the D-rat/crypto-commie persuasion. All these numbers are made up, especially the suicide one. The sources of the 20 suicides a day stat are based on those who commit suicide and someone reports they served in the military, even though there have been decades between their service and suicide. Also, how many phonies have we seen here who have died and their relatives persist with the fake stories of fake military combat service that never occurred. So, I likewise don’t believe it. Especially when their poster boy is some bum on the street holding a cardboard sign. Anyone seen his DD-214? Not likely.
You want to see a copy of the DD-214, can send you copy of the one that I blacked out parts of so will match info sent by DVA to VA. Any thing prior to 69 in my possession has been pitched into a pile as am still looking to be sure I gather all that exists, in fact probably will only keep the one copy and pitch all other paperwork and Govt issued merit badges. I say let the resident O-4 hero garner all the glory with his meritorious service and knowledge.
McDonald’s is now offering 10% off on your order if you can prove that you are active duty or a retired veteran.
This is the God’s honest truth. On one hand I felt like I cheapened the memory of my service but on the other hand it was a couple of bucks.
I do the Lowe’s and HomeDepot 10% but forego the Applebee’s free meal on Veterans’ Day.
Please tell me if you think I’ve dishonored myself by taking the 10% McDonalds’ discount. Your thoughts on the matter mean a lot to me – not really.
You earned it. Take it. If the discounts go away I don’t think you will complain that it’s not fair. Amirite?
As a military retiree, me and my spousal unit always inquire about discounts especially with hotels in Boston. Rooms that typically list for $300 – $400 nightly are sometimes discounted by $100 or more for military personnel. I also like taking my Home Depot 10% discount. I appreciate any business that offers the discount and I’m more inclined to patronize that establishment.
I always take advantage of the 10% Veteran discount at Lowes or Home Depot, if they offer it I’ve BTDT and earned it!
How about we give the last 160,000 vets of the 101st each a $1K check and call it good. I bet they would all go for that. Its the same amount of stupid money
The Veteran is not defective, or damaged other than hard-use wear-n-tear.
Reject those who project their own Id issues upon you.
The real deal with the programs identified is this… They are all research institutes. They are using veterans (very, very loose definitions no one here will like) as guinea pigs, for data, to validate various treatment modalities and theories. But, they do actually offer a valuable service for those with mental health issues. Their efficacy rates are in the 90’s, and that does matter, whether the issues are actually related to military service or not. One of the many, many outcomes being quietly investigated and supported is the correlation between preexisting mental health issues and disorders, preexisting trauma and subsequent to service diagnoses. Someone, somewhere figured out if that understanding makes it into the public consciousness, funds as well as support for those who really need, deserve and have earned it will dry up. But, this is a quietly known and accepted, if not fully understood and rationally addressed fact. One good application of this data will be better screening for future service members. Another is already being realized with the understanding that PTSD is a medical issue, a biological injury that can be measured, and not a mental health issue or disorder. Those measurement tools are being developed, which in part takes lots and lots of data. Also contrary to this reporting, these programs work hand-in-glove with the VA on research data sharing, to the above stated ends. Yes, the narrative sucks and continues the veteran-as-victim myth, but that is an irrelevant “adverse event” to their purposes. Yes, these are civilians who have no real understanding of the veteran culture imposing civilian sensibilities and morals on veterans, but there is some good that may come of this. To these specific programs it is all about the research, which will benefit the current and future veteran community. Believe it or not, there is growing realization that most of those who are nonfunctional are nonfunctional not because of their military service AND everything that has been done to “help” veterans up until now has actually done more harm than good in the aggregate. The minority of veterans whose challenges are a… Read more »