Photo By Staff Sgt. Ruth McClary | PJ Steewyk makes his mark on a memorabilia banner during Post-Traumatic Stress...... read more read more
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CHARLOTTE, N.C.— Every eye is peeled on Bobby Grey, a Marine veteran speaking about his attempted suicide during Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day at the National Guard Armory here, July 26.
Grey wanted everyone to know that he never considered suicide before. He disputed the facts because he had no recollection of the act even when his wife told him that she found him hanging from a tree in their backyard. When he awoke from a coma a week after the incident, he said he thought he had been in a car accident.
“They told me I tried to commit suicide but I didn’t believe them,” said Grey. “I saw the marks on my neck but I couldn’t believe I had done that. I always thought [suicide] was the coward’s way out.”
Grey displayed signs of PTSD throughout the seven years after the explosive Iraqi attack in 2005 where some of his comrades were killed, but he always found a way to justify his actions; never seeking help. On Memorial Day 2013, PTSD took total control of his actions and his survival was the turning point that led him to get the help he needed.
According to a Bloomberg Businessweek article, “Suicides among active-duty military have increased this year [in comparison] with the same period last year, but Pentagon officials say they are encouraged that more service members are seeking help through hotlines and other aid programs.”
The increase in military suicides led to the development of multiple veteran agencies specializing in helping soldiers cope with stress, transitioning back to civilian life, depression, finances, depression, etc.
“Soldiers can receive group or individual counseling and they can speak with psychiatrists and receive medication if needed,” said Timothy Nason, a patient advocate of the Salisbury Veterans Administration Medical Center.
This event was organized to educate veterans on the services available to them. Several Veteran Administration departments had displays at the event. The VET Center brought a mobile unit with a counselor ready to speak with anyone in need of help.
Although there was a band playing upbeat music and a Zumba session to get everyone up and moving, the message was very serious and professionals and volunteers were on hand to provide information and answer veterans' questions.
Deborah Volkner, the program director of Transition Services at the Salisbury VA Medical Center, discussed the three overall programs available to veterans: Poly-traumatic, Caregiver Support, and Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn, also known as “Triple O.”
The poly-traumatic program screens returning veterans for case management, caregiver support provides provisions and stipends to caregivers of extremely wounded vets, and the “Triple O” has programs set-up to help service members with post deployment transition.
Penny Greerlink, a women veteran programs manager of the Salisbury VA Med Ctr, spoke about an increase of women services at VA hospitals.
“The VA has long been considered a man’s hospital,” said Greerlink. “Women are the fastest growing population at the center. [Now] we call it ‘one-stop shopping’; everything a female can get outside the facility, they can get at the center.”
Information of health services was available and other organizations such as The American Red Cross, Homes for Heroes, Respite.org, Patriot’s Path, Tricare, Charlotte Bridge Home, United Services Organization (USO), and Operation Homefront also had representatives at the event.
“Operation Homefront gave 188 homes to veterans last year,” said Darden Blow, a Program Manager of Operation Homefront. “We don’t spend a lot of money on advertising; 94 percent of the funding goes to veterans. I don’t want to spend $500,000 on ads when I can spend $500,000 on veterans.”
There were several volunteers at the event. Elevation Church members provided food (hamburgers/hot dogs and chips), sno-cones, and small candy canisters with hand written messages on them. Kay Smith, an Army Veteran (1978-1981), brought Miles, a therapy dog, to the event. The therapy dogs provide emotional support to service members suffering with the disorder.
Soldiers and veterans in attendance talked about common PTSD episodes.
Carry Bandy and Nikkie Newsome, family program specialists of the 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, both are veterans that have been diagnosed with PTSD and they were motivated to sponsor an event to shed light on PTSD in a positive manner.
“PTSD is taboo, [no one wants to admit they have it],” said Bandy. “Soldiers complain of problems but ultimately PTSD is at the root of the problem. If we can tackle the PTSD then they will be able to take care of the other problems.”
It may be taboo overall, but not during this event. Soldiers spoke candidly to each other about episodes of PTSD and heads nodded in agreement as they told their stories. They stated that talking about it is therapeutic.
“When you look at me you probably wouldn’t think I have PTSD, but I do,” said Newsome. “When you get around people you know how to mask it. If it wasn’t for my friends and my boss pushing me to go out I probably would still be inside. They helped me get through it.”
Grey describes all the details of how he progressed from angry bouts to an attempted suicide that he can’t remember in a video posted on You Tube titled, “Battling PTSD with Jason Myers Racing”. He likes to tell his story because he says he wants to help educate soldiers and veterans on the severity of PTSD.
“Now I really take my care seriously,” said Grey. “Educate yourself, put your pride aside and get help.”
| Date Taken: | 07.26.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 08.11.2014 15:01 |
| Story ID: | 138979 |
| Location: | CHARLOTTE, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 115 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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