Treatment Options For Ptsd
WWP directs every hour, dollar, and action to helping warriors achieve their highest ambition. Some of its programs focus directly on treating PTSD and creating coping skills for wounded veterans of todays generation. Individuals respond differently to trauma. They also respond differently to treatment. Here are a few of our mental health programs:
- Project Odyssey®: WWP mental health workshops bring veterans together to take on outdoor challenges together. During the multi-day events, we help veterans grow internally while also expanding external support structures.
- WWP Talk: WWP staff members are available for weekly calls to warriors, family members, and caregivers to provide not only a helpful ear, but also encouragement. WWP works with the individual to set goals and create a plan to exceed those targets.
- Warrior Care Network®: WWPs Warrior Care Network provides world-class clinical mental health care. Warrior Care Network is a partnership between WWP and four top academic medical centers. The PTSD treatment provides more than 70 hours of clinical care in 2- to 3-week programs. Warrior Care Network includes cognitive therapy, prolonged exposure, virtual reality, mindfulness, and more.
In addition to the above programs available through WWP, there are a number of options to address PTSD. VA provides free options for eligible veterans, including therapy. There are a number of ways to find suitable veterans mental health resources.
Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits
Reference:
The CPP provides disability benefits to eligible contributors and their dependent children.
Eligibility
To be eligible for disability benefits, a contributor must have been found to be disabled according to the terms of the CPP legislation and have made sufficient contributions to the plan. The contributor must also be under the age of 65 and apply in writing.
A contributor is considered disabled under the CPP if he or she suffers from a physical or mental disability that is both severe and prolonged. “Severe” means that the disability causes the person to become unable to regularly pursue any substantially gainful occupation. “Prolonged” means that the disability is likely to be long, continued, and of indefinite duration, or is likely to result in death.
Details
Regular and Reserve Force service is considered employment for the purposes of the CPP.
It is necessary to apply for CPP disability benefits in order to receive them.
Amount of Benefits
The disability pension is a monthly benefit, which consists of a flat-rate component and an earnings-related component. The earnings-related component is equal to 75% of a retirement pension under the CPP, calculated as if the contributor became 65 years of age in the month when the disability pension became payable.
Support for Returning to Work
The CPP Disability program encourages beneficiaries to work to their potential and offers the following return to work support:
Children’s Benefits
Contact
Is Help Available For Veterans And Family Members With Addictions
Yes. All of the providers described above can help with substance abuse counseling. In addition, the Friends of Recovery is a non-profit organization that advocates for Vermonters seeking independence from their addictions. They are a great resource for finding out what programs are available in your local area.
- Friends of Recovery – 769-2798
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What Help Is There For Me
PTSD is treatable. Many places within VA provide PTSD treatment. General programs that provide mental health services include VA medical centers, community-based outpatient clinics , and Vet Centers. Use the VA Facilities Locator to find the closest VA facility.
An extra note about Vet Centers
Offered through the Readjustment Counseling Service, Vet Centers are located in the community. They provide information, assessment, and counseling to any Veteran who served in a war zone. This includes conflicts such as in Somalia, Iraq, or Afghanistan.
Vet Centers also offer services to families of Veterans for military-related issues. There are no fees or charges for Vet Center services, and services are confidential. That means no information will be given to any person or agency without your consent. Most of the staff are Veterans themselves.
During normal business hours, you can call 1-800-905-4675 or 1-866-496-8838 . The Vet Center program also has a 24/7 hotline, with all calls answered by combat Veterans: 1-877-WAR-VETS .
VA special PTSD clinics and programs
VA also has special PTSD clinics and programs that can help eligible Veterans. For more on these programs, see PTSD Treatment Programs in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
What to expect when you see a VA provider
- Classes on dealing with stress, anger, sleep, relationships, and PTSD symptoms
- One-to-one, group, and family counseling
As An American Veteran How Do I File A Claim For Disability Due To Ptsd
A formal request must be filed by the veteran using forms provided by the VA’s Veterans Benefits Administration. After the forms are completely submitted, the veteran must complete interviews concerning her or his “social history” and “psychiatric status” . The forms and information about the application process can be obtained from Benefits Officers at any VA Medical Center, Outpatient Clinic, or Regional Office.
The process of applying for a VA disability for PTSD can take several months, and can be both complicated and quite stressful. The Veteran’s Service Organizations provide “Service Officers” at no cost to help veterans and family members pursue VA disability claims. Service Officers are familiar with every step in the application and interview process, and can provide both technical guidance and moral support. In addition, some Service Officers particularly specialize in assisting veterans with PTSD disability claims.
Even if a veteran has not been a member of a specific Veterans Service Organization, the veteran still can request the assistance of a Service Officer working for that organization. In order to get representation by a qualified and helpful Service Officer, you can directly contact the local office of any Veterans Service Organization or ask for recommendations from other veterans who have applied for VA disability, or from a PTSD specialist at a VA PTSD clinic or a Vet Center.
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Do You Have Brochures/handouts/videos Available
Any material on our website is free for you to use, reproduce, and distribute as needed . The National Center for PTSD’s website contains information created by experts: fact sheets, handouts, award winning educational videos, web based course material , manuals, guides, and MORE! These materials cover a range of audiences and a range of topics .
Complementary And Alternative Medicine
Complementary and Alternative Medicine approaches to the treatment of many medical and mental health diagnoses, including PTSD, are in use the research base to support their effectiveness is improving, but not complete. Acupuncture, a component of traditional Chinese medicine, has been examined for PTSD in a limited number of small Randomized Controlled Trials . Although early results are promising, replication of these results in larger studies is needed. Yoga Nidra, a relaxation and meditative form of yoga, has also been used as an adjunctive treatment for PTSD. Formal studies demonstrating its effectiveness for PTSD are currently being conducted, and further research is needed on Yoga Nidra for PTSD before its effectiveness can be commented on. Herbal or dietary supplements have also been used for the treatment of PTSD. Although there have been some studies of their effectiveness, the results of these small RCTs provide insufficient evidence to draw firm conclusions about their effectiveness for PTSD. In addition, the quality and purity of herbals and dietary supplements available in the United States varies widely, further complicating their use. Revisions of the VA/DoD CPGs are currently underway to include a comprehensive review of the evidence for all treatments, including CAM.
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Veterans Benefits For Post
The United States has compensated military veterans for service-related injuries since the Revolutionary War, with the current indemnity model established near the end of World War I. The Department of Veterans Affairs began to provide disability benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder in the 1980s after the diagnosis became part of official psychiatric nosology.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a serious, potentially debilitating psychiatric disorder that can develop after experiencing one or more terrifying or horrific events. It is characterized by re-experiencing the trauma in the form of vivid intrusive memories, dissociative flashback episodes, or nightmares avoidance of trauma-related thoughts and memories and frequently feeling under threat manifested as, for example, hypervigilance and intense startle reactions.
Some research suggests that VA disability benefits achieve their goal of helping veterans suffering from PTSD. The Veterans Benefits Administration , a component of the Department of Veterans Affairs, processes disability claims and administers all aspects of the VA disability program. Since 1988 VA disability claim decisions have been subject to federal court review.
Does The Va Provide Mental Health Counseling
Yes. The US Department of Veterans Affairs provides mental health counseling in three different settings in Vermont.
VA Option #1: Primary Mental Health Clinic
The VA provides a full range of therapy options through the Primary Mental Health Clinic at the White River Junction VA Medical Center. Veterans do not need an appointment to be seen. Veterans in need of mental health assistance can just show up, although we would recommend calling in advance for directions, hours of operation, etc. Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder , depression, anxiety, addictions, sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, and other related conditions can find help at the PMHC, in both individual and group settings.
- White River Junction VA Medical Center, Toll Free – 687-8387
- Primary Mental Health Clinic – 687-8387, Extension 6132
VA Option #2: Community Based Outpatient Clinics & VA Community Partnerships
Veterans don’t have to go to White River Junction to get mental health care from the VA. They can get help from the Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Bennington and Colchester. The VA also has partnerships with community mental health providers in Newport and St. Johnsbury. Treatment at the Newport and St. Johnsbury community clinics can be arranged for you by the Primary Mental Health Clinic.
- Primary Mental Health Clinic – 687-8387, Extension 6132
VA Option #3: Vet Centers
- White River Junction Vet Center – 295-2908
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Am I Eligible For Disability Benefits From Va
You may be eligible for disability benefits if you have symptoms related to a traumatic event or your experience with the stressor is related to the PTSD symptoms, and you meet all of these requirements.
All of these must be true:
- The stressor happened during your service, and
- You cant function as well as you once could because of your symptoms, and
- A doctor has diagnosed you with PTSD
Va Disability Compensation For Ptsd
Posttraumatic stress can happen after someone goes through a traumatic event such as combat, an assault, or a disaster. Most people have some stress reactions following trauma. But if the reactions dont go away over time or they disrupt your life, you may have posttraumatic stress disorder . Find out if you can get disability compensation or benefits if you have symptoms of PTSD.
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Veterans Affairs Canada Benefits
This section applies to Regular, Reserve, family, living and deceased members.
Reference:
Purpose
Canadian Armed Forces Members, Veterans, their survivors and/or dependent children may be eligible for benefits and services administered by Veterans Affairs Canada .
Eligibility
Eligibility for benefits and services vary. Specific requirements for entitlement are detailed in the sections that follow.
Details
Career Transition Services
VACs Career Transition Services is available to still-serving Canadian Armed Forces members who have completed basic training, former members who completed basic training and released from the CAF on or after April 1, 2006, or those entitled to the Canadian Forces Income Support Benefit. It is also available to a spouse, common-law partner or survivor of a Veteran who completed basic training and who released from the CAF on or after April 1, 2006, or a survivor of a CAF member who completed basic training and who died on or after April 1, 2006.
Eligible clients will work with a qualified career counsellor who understands the transition from military to post-military life.
CTS provides the following services: one-on-one career counselling, help with resume writing, interview preparation and job searching.
Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance program
Medical Rehabilitation includes any physical or psychological treatment whose object is to stabilize and restore the basic physical and psychological functions of a person.
Contact
Disability Illness Or Injury Benefits
Certain disability benefits are available to members and former members of the CAF through a number of legislative acts, regulations and agreements. The administration of these benefits is shared by a number of organizations within the Department of National Defence and by other federal government agencies such as Veterans Affairs Canada or Service Canada.
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Federal Public Service Employment
This section applies to Regular, Reserve and living members.
Reference:
Purpose
Surviving spouses or common law-partners of Canadian Armed Forces members who meet certain eligibility criteria are entitled to be considered for employment on an external advertised appointment process in priority to those persons with no priority status for a position in the public service.
Eligibility
Surviving spouses or common-law partners of members whose death is attributable to the performance of duties can make a request to be considered for this entitlement. Surviving spouses or common-law partners of deceased CAF members are eligible to request priority entitlement if their spouse/common-law partner was:
- a member of the Regular Force,
- a member of the Special Force or
- a member on Class A, B or C service in the Reserve Force.
and that the following provisions are met:
- the death of their spouse or common-law partner was attributable to the performance of duties and occurred on or after 7 October 2001 and
- they are qualified under a federally or provincially legislated plan for compensation as a result of the death of their spouse or common-law partner having been determined as being attributable to the performance of duties. In the case of CAF members, this compensation is the awarding of the Death Benefit by Veterans Affairs Canada .
Details
The entitlement period ends on the earliest of:
Contact
How To Help A Loved One With Ptsd
First, let them know that acknowledging they may have PTSD shows theyre strong, not weak.
- Let the veteran determine what they are comfortable talking about, and dont push.
- Be a good listener and dont say things like, I know how you felt, or, Thats just like when I, even if you also served in a combat zone. Everyones feelings are unique.
- Remind your loved one that they are not alone, and many others have personal stories they can share about their readjustment. Talking to other warriors can help them cope.
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The Department Of Veterans Affairs Health Care System
Treatment for PTSD and other mental health conditions is an important part of the VAs mission of providing medical care to eligible veterans. In FY 2010, an estimated 790,000 veterans were identified as having a service-connected mental health disorder . During FY 2010, 438,091 veterans were treated for the disorder in the VA health care system . The latter made up 8.4% of all users of VA health care services, and the number was more than double the number treated for PTSD in FY 2002 . That increase is directly related to the influx of veterans returning from deployments in OIF and OEF. During FY 2010, 82,239 veterans of OIF and OEF are known to have received PTSD services through the VA health care system they amounted to 24.6% of all OIF and OEF veterans using the system , although this underestimates the actual number because reporting from the Vet Centers is incomplete. Many of the 191,501 veterans who were reported to have used the Vet Centers received care for PTSD, but many of them are not included in the previously cited figures . Data are not available on the number of people who use Vet Center services and have received a diagnosis of PTSD. Although the VA has built a system of specialized programs focused on treatment for PTSD, most of PTSD-related services are offered in general mental health and medical settings.
Take The Next Step To Connect With Care
Every day, Veterans from all military service branches and eras connect with proven resources and effective treatments. Heres how to take the next step: the one thats right for you.
Read VA’s latest coronavirus information. If you have flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath, please call before you visit your local medical center or clinic. If you have an appointment, consider making it a telehealth appointment.
New to VA? Apply for health care benefits.
- Getting started is simple. Create a free account online to help ease your enrollment process. To prepare to apply for VA health care in person, by telephone, or by mail, explore VAs How to Apply page.
- Not sure whether you are eligible for VA health care benefits? Read about eligibility for VA health care.
- Unsure of what kind of help you need? Call 1-877-222-VETS to find the right resources to meet your needs, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. If you have hearing loss, call TTY: .
- Veterans family members and caregivers can see whether they qualify for VA medical benefits as a spouse, surviving spouse, dependent child, or caregiver. Explore family and caregiver health benefits.
Already enrolled in VA and interested in mental health support? Schedule a mental health appointment.
What about other options at VA? VA offers a variety of tools and resources.
What about support beyond VA?
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Hagel Orders Shakeup Of Mia Accounting Agencies
Categories:POW/MIA
WASHINGTON — In the wake of numerous reports of misconduct and poor management practices by personnel charged with recovering and identifying the remains of missing servicemembers from past conflicts, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has ordered the Pentagon to come up with a plan to consolidate all Defense Department assets into a single, more accountable entity that will manage all personnel accounting resources, research and operations.
Categories:Employment
CONCORD, N.H. New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen has introduced two bills to help veterans look for jobs and start small businesses.
The Veterans Hiring Act would cut payroll taxes for businesses that hire veterans.