Did you know that returning veterans may be at a higher risk of suicide? Call 1-800-273-8255 if you are experiencing an emotional crisis and need to talk to a caring provider who can help. These are some warning signs:

Thinking about killing or hurting yourself
Looking for ways to kill yourself
Talking about death, dying or suicide
Self-destructive behavior such as drug abuse, weapons, etc.
Hopelessness, feeling like there’s no way out
Anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness, mood swings
Feeling like there is no reason to live
Engaging in risky activities without thinking
Increasing alcohol or drug abuse
Withdrawing from family and friends

Call immediately if you experience any of these signs

1-800-273-8255

This video explains how soldiers can be exposed to repetitive traumas that may lead to CTE or other physical brain disorders. There are about 7000 suicides by veterans each year. It is a tragedy. We believe much of this is related to traumas received in training and in the battle fields as they try valiantly to protect our country.

https://focusvisionmedia.wistia.com/medias/ejprd0y8by

This encouraging video explains some of the testing being done in the field to study what is happening during routine drills and blast exposure. Changes in the proteins are believed to cause CTE.

http://www.defensenews.com/video/cause-and-effect-understanding-low-impact-traumatic-brain-injury?utm_medium=player&utm_campaign=player_referral

Functional Decline 5 Years After Blast Traumatic Brain InjurySounding the Alarm for a Wave of Disability?

http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/article-abstract/2618930

PTSD May Be Physical as Well as Psychological, Scientists Say

http://www.sciencealert.com/ptsd-may-be-physical-as-well-as-psychological-scientists-say

Early Clinical Predictors of 5-Year Outcome After Concussive Blast Traumatic Brain Injury

http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/article-abstract/2618936?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=content-shareicons&utm_content=article_engagement&utm_medium=social&utm_term=071117

Psychedelic Drug May be Approved for PTSD Therapy:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/ecstasy-could-be-breakthrough-therapy-for-soldiers-others-suffering-from-ptsd/2017/08/26/009314ca-842f-11e7-b359-15a3617c767b_story.html?utm_term=.aa756fffdb1a

Benefits of Owning a PTSD Service Dog:

dog/https://companionsforheroes.org/our-services/benefits-of-service-dogs-for-vets/

The VA provides service dog benefits and refers people to accredited agencies. Many of these organizations do not charge for the dog or the dog’s training.

America’s VetDogs – the Veteran’s K-9 Corps, Inc.: The service dog programs of America’s VetDogs® were created to provide enhanced mobility and renewed independence to veterans, active-duty service members and first responders with disabilities.

Brigadoon Service Dogs: Brigadoon Service Dogs provides trained service dogs for veterans, children, adults with physical, developmental, and behavioral health disabilities to promote a more independent and enriched life.

Patriot Paws: This organization trains and provides service dogs at no cost to disabled American veterans and others with mobile disabilities and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to help them restore their physical and emotional independence.

K9s for Warriors: K9s for Warriors provides service canines to veterans who suffer from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma as a result of military service post 9/11. K9s for Warriors works to return veterans to civilian life with dignity and independence.

NEADS: Service dogs for veterans programs match highly skilled service dogs with United States veterans from any conflict who have a permanent physical disability, are deaf or who have profound hearing loss, or have MS or other progressive conditions. (These disabilities do not need to be combat-related.)

Retrieving Freedom, Inc.: Retrieving Freedom is an ADI accredited 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to training service dogs to serve the needs of veterans and children with autism.

On April 23, 2018, we signed on to the endorsement to the Committee on Veteran’s Affairs from the Friends of NIDA for support of Cannabis Research. See here Letter of endorsement – VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018

Research on military brains mirrors those of ex-athletes.

http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/military-personnel-brain-changes-similar-retired-football-players-suspected-cte

A Report Protecting Warfighters from Blast Injury, April 2018

https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/protecting-warfighters-from-blast-injury

Marines Who Fired Rocket Launchers Now Worry About Their Brains

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/07/25/632243103/marines-who-fired-rocket-launchers-now-worry-about-their-brains

BEHIND THE MASK

Revealing the Trauma of War

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/healing-soldiers/index.html

DEFENSE AND VETERANS BRAIN INJURY CENTER

Their mission is clinical care, research, and education.

Military & Veterans Crisis Line
800-273-8255, press 1

LINK

WARRIOR CARE NETWORK

Warrior Care Network strives to enhance access
and provide treatment to warriors and their families
living with PTSD and TBI.

Visit Warrior Care Network

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2454" src="https://stopcte.org/W/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/soldiers-1002_1920-scaled.jpg" alt="soldiers can be exposed to repetitive traumas that may lead to CTE" width="1650" height="993" />