Last night I attended some presentations sponsored by the Medical Reserve Corp of Dutchess County, NY, of which I am a member. One of the featured speakers was Elizabeth Rahilly, LMSW, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Hudson Valley HCS. 

Rahilly discussed how frequently PTSD and mTBI affected many of the thousands of returning military men and women as they sought to move beyond debriefing to adjustment. But even more troubling, while there are medical, psychological, and social work personnel ready to treat military returnees, they are not seeking help in the numbers they should.

Suicide rates among returning recently deployed personnel are increased in comparison to national averages and 78% higher among personnel deployed three or more times. That is why it is important to write down and remember 1-800-273-TALK.

1-800-273-TALK is the national suicide prevention hot line available for use by everyone in America. Returning military personnel and veterans who dial the number, however, are asked to press 'one'. There they will find trained VA hotline personnel available 24/7 to counsel each caller or to answer questions.

For persons in need of support, the hotline is able to bring on site help to the caller anywhere in the USA or in any deployment area within 24 hours. So write 1-800-273-TALK on a card or piece of paper and keep it in your wallet or glove compartment of your car for emergency reference. Or use it yourself now to call on your own behalf. According to Rahilly, when making outreach presentations, even among Troopers and police there have been occasionally some who stated they would use the number themselves.

If you or someone you know or love is evidencing a mix of the following symptoms and does not as yet already have a supportive resource in place, do get them to call or make the call yourself.

Here is the list of questions the positive answers to which may be associated with PSTD and mTBI (or possibly some other debilitating mental condition). The questions are taken verbatim from the card distributed by Rahilly that had been made available to the public by the Veteran's Administration.

As the VA is not permitted to advertise and relies solely on word of mouth to let people know about its services, it seemed only appropriate to copy the information from the card here.

To differentiate that which is quoted from this blogger's own words, the quoted matter is in black.

Can't sleep? Friends say you're different? Family says you've changed? Feeling anxious? Racing thoughts? Road Rage?
Sensitivity to light? Medical concerns? Forgetful? Drinking more often or using drugs? Trouble with relationships? Trouble finding or holding a job? Feeling alone?

Who would understand?
We Understand.
We can help

VA Hudson Valley Health Care System: "We are committed to keep the promise to our veterans. It has been said that the VA provides "THE BEST CARE ANYWHERE" We have great staff and services waiting to help you have a seamless transition back to your life.

We're expecting your call.

Among the stories Rahilly told was one of a mother talking to her son in the Middle East via Skype when the son showed her a gun and said he was going to end his life. The mother signaled the father to use the number. The father called for help and before the young man hung up from the conversation, VA associated professional help entered the picture on the screen, talked to the son and averted what might have been another unnecessary and useless suicide.

68,000 returning military personnel are in the Hudson Valley in New York at this time. Very few are coming in for services. And, it would seem, the same is true all over America. So please, wherever you are, if you know a returning military person, pass this number along to him or her. Or pass it along to a member of his or her family. Or if you have use for the number yourself, do use it. Make the call and do it soon. All that it will cost you is a bit of time.

In other, please sign in the guest book found to the extreme right on this page.

Roberta in Po-Town, Reachin' out