The Best Way to Celebrate Veterans Day
November 11 is a very important day in the United States; it’s a day to recognize and celebrate those who have served to protect our country. All veterans, old and young, whether they’ve served in the Navy, Army, Air Force, in Vietnam or in Afghanistan; deserve to be honored. Veterans Day is a great time to stop and remember that these brave individuals don’t only face hardships during their time of their service. Once they’re home, there are new obstacles to overcome. Mental illness, addiction, unemployment, and homelessness are just a few of the unfortunate realities our veterans face when they return. Let’s take a closer look and the struggles they deal with and the ways in which you can help (when you donate your car in Ohio).
Mental Illness
There are nearly 900,000 veterans in Ohio alone. Too many of them suffer from mental health issues like depression, TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Often, these conditions lead to a dual diagnosis of mental illness and addiction. Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio offers residential treatment programs and rehabilitation services for veterans suffering from substance abuse. We provide mental health evaluations, treatment plans, individual and group therapy, and continued support.
Unemployment
In addition to mental illness and addiction, our veterans also face difficulties finding steady employment. This is, in part, due to the the psychological problems that some are dealing with. But many times, it’s because they lack the skills required to land a decent job. They’ve been out of the workforce so long and find themselves behind. Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio offers employment services that assist with job readiness skills, resume writing, career counseling, and more.
Homelessness
One in five homeless adults is a veteran. As we’ve outlined above, mental illness and addiction make it hard to find and keep a job, which by extension makes it almost impossible to afford housing. Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio’s housing services provide shelter as well as case management, clinical treatment, and peer support, all geared towards ending homelessness for our veterans.