COVID-19 is A New Battleground for Veterans
Is self isolation another deployment?
Being stuck in the same place for an exorbitant amount of time, with the same people, living Groundhog Day over and over…
Having a threat outside you that you can’t see or fully understand, and not knowing when or if you’ll be exposed…
Having your environment become more uncontrolled, while your anxiety levels rise…
Self isolation and deployment have more in common than you probably realize.
Imagine being in that dark place, already feeling alone and isolated, and on top of that, dealing with a global pandemic. For veterans who are experiencing pre-existing mental health conditions, the battle goes from hard to harder.
This is why receiving counseling support is so critical. Counseling aids in battling the war of our minds and mental health. Talk therapy, specifically, allows people to tell their story and work through their internal blocks in order to get to the place of overcoming challenges.
In the irony of this self-isolation deployment, veterans in particular have coping skills that they may not even realize. Counselors are able to help veterans realize their strengths and help them utilize the tools needed to cope with their situation.
For veterans who are experiencing pre-existing mental health conditions, the battle goes from hard to harder.
Recovery Resource Council
Recovery Resource Council, a partner of Serve Denton, provides free mental health services to eligible veterans and their families. From talk therapy, youth services, play therapy, and EMDR (psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences), their services are geared toward helping address the trauma, or ripples of trauma, that the military lifestyle or combat instills.
“Oftentimes the current situation has nothing to do with an immediate or direct connection of military service. But partially that military service made an impact and it presents itself in different ways. Some clients have been out of the service for decades, while others got out yesterday,” Casey Gutierrez, Director of Veterans Services, explains.
Knowing that caregivers are also affected, and are at increased risk for developing mental health conditions themselves, RRC offers treatment levels that go beyond just the individual. Additionally, by providing youth services and play therapy sessions for children aged 3 and up, they are able to promote health for the entire veteran family unit.
From trauma work to crisis intervention
I think we can all agree that the Coronavirus has pressed pause on many things, causing us to look inward. Both the clients and therapists of Recovery Resource Council have done the same, resulting in two huge victories:
Veterans who might not have ever breached a counselor’s door, are now open to receiving mental health support for the first time.
Counselors, recognizing this, have been nimble enough to transition from trauma work to crisis intervention.
The COVID-19 pandemic creates a perfect storm that threatens the mental health of many veterans, particularly those with pre-existing mental health conditions. First confronted with an emergent trauma, people who have experienced past traumas are more likely to develop new mental health symptoms or experience worsening symptoms.
Anxieties about contracting the virus, loneliness brought on by self isolation, and unplanned job or wage loss are just a few of the factors propelling veterans to seek support for the first time.
The pandemic has been the trigger for many to seek mental health services.
So it goes without saying why Recovery Resource Council has shifted toward crisis intervention, as opposed to deep trauma work with some clients. They know that in order for a wound to fully heal, you have to first stop the bleeding.
Meeting the client where they are at, listening to their concerns, and how they, or other veterans, have been affected by COVID-19, is crucial to laying the foundation for long term mental health.
And although crisis intervention may have increased in the past few months, over time, trauma work will again be the focus.
At this point in time, RRC hasn’t seen an increase in suicide risk, although some safety plans have been put in place. However, they are doing more checks on clients and normalizing what's going on. Rather than responding with the energy that anxiety produces, they are strategically spending their energy on creating a safe approach for their clients.
Honoring veterans is more than just thanking them for their service, but acknowledging the toll their service has taken on their mental health.
Ahead of the ‘Corona-curve’
For many veterans, room for counseling services hasn’t existed in the past. But as the Coronavirus pandemic has pushed people to reorganize and replace priorities, mental health support has risen to the top.
“Everyone has a plate, and everyone’s plate is full. For us, it’s an honor and privilege to get a 50 minute chunk of it,” Casey expresses.
Like the rest of us, therapists and clients alike are stuck at home. A lot of people have had to revamp how they live. There’s been a whole logistical change. The increased demand for mental health services has required providers to be equipped to supply evidence based care via telehealth platforms.
But for Recovery Resource Council, offering telehealth services is nothing new.
In fact, RRC has been offering telehealth services for years now. Prior to COVID-19, Recovery Resource Council received a grant from the Texas Veterans Commission which set them up for telemental health services. With their staff already virtually trained, and now experts on how to conduct virtual counseling sessions in a safe and secure way, RRC hasn’t had to play catch-up in regards to providing services to their clients amidst the national shutdown.
With all the inconveniences the Coronavirus has brought in its wake, providing telehealth services for veterans and their families hasn’t been one of them.
Rather than being busy transitioning their services online, they have been able to spend their time improving their already existing telehealth services. They’ve been able to expand into teleplay therapy, as well as virtual group sessions for couples and families.
“The longer we do this, the more we agree that telemental is as good, or can be even better, than in-person services.” Casey shares.
Grateful for funders that allow Recovery Resource Council to increase the quality of their services, and grateful to their clients for embracing the new normal, their transition has been smoother than most.
Home from war to fight another battle
Honoring veterans is more than just thanking them for their service, but acknowledging the toll their service has taken on their mental health.
It’s acknowledging that they gave themselves (physically, mentally, emotionally) for you. For me. For us.
It’s acknowledging that veterans have fought for our freedom, and now they are fighting for theirs.
The battleground may be different, and the enemy might have a different face, but there is still a war raging on. Everyday people are battling their minds, fighting for hope, and waging war against depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions. Mental Health Awareness isn’t just a reality for the days in May. This day is every day.
Veterans don’t return home to isolation. They return home to communities. And it is at the community level where their success is determined.
Recovery Resource Council understands this.
They are nimble enough to move from treatment plans to crisis intervention. They are compassionate enough to meet clients exactly where they’re at. They are wise enough to know that the experiences of one veteran affect a family, a community, a nation.
If you, or a veteran you know, could benefit from the services offered by Recovery Resource Council, learn more about how they can serve you. They are available, willing, and ready to see people for an intake today.
Connected with other agencies who offer free or discounted services for veterans, they are also able to provide a whole spectrum of referrals from legal, educational, housing, substance abuse, etc.
Mental health affects us all in different ways. It’s time to honor our veterans by supporting organizations like Recovery Resource Council who are dedicated to supporting the men, women, and families who have sacrificed so much for us.
They are making a meaningful change... And so can you.