Dan Meyer's Column February 13, 2009

CVSO Article due 13 February 2009

By: Dan Meyer
The office hours for the Lac qui Parle County Veterans Service Office are 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. My office phone number is (320) 598-3445.

Vet-to-Vet Peer Support Program Announced.

The Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs is teaming up with The National Alliance on mental Illness Minnesota to develop a network of support groups for returning veterans.

The, Vet-to-Vet Peer Support Program will offer weekly support to veterans with PTSD, depression, anxiety and other emotional and mental health issues related to their deployment.

Funding for this program was made possible through a grant from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs. In January, NAMI Minnesota hired Micah Ternet, an Iraq War veteran, as the project director.

NAMI Minnesota offers many resources for returning veterans including educational materials, access to mental health care resources, the “Give an Hour Program” among other initiatives.

Facilitator training is planned for March 20. For more information, contact Micah Ternet, mternet@nami.org or 1-888-NAMI-HELPS.

In the "Did You Know?" segment. Suicide is the 11th most frequent cause of death in the U.S. - someone dies from suicide every 16 minutes. Suicidal ideas and attempts to harm oneself are the result of problems that may seem like they cannot be fixed. Seek professional help - call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), and indicate you are a veteran. You will be immediately connected to VA suicide prevention and mental health professionals. Or contact your local VA Medical Center or Vet Center today. For more information, visit the Department of Veterans' Affairs Suicide Prevention webpage.

Until next week, take care and "Fair winds and following seas!"