Mental health, while it has always been of utmost importance, has certainly been the recipient of some positive recognition as of late. By positive recognition I am referring to the fact that mental health is very much becoming a de-stigmatized topic, and personally, I find this advancement towards the topic to be truly wonderful in terms of raising awareness and educating the public on the various forms of mental health illnesses and how they can burden those who experience them.
Depending on the type of job we have, our mental health may be something that is influenced and jeopardized on a daily basis, for example, if you’re a first-responder or a police officer. My respect for those of us who work in such high-stress and dangerous occupations is significant, and I’ve always wondered why more initiatives haven’t been undertaken to provide the folks working in these positions with better and more fitted access and resources to mental health help and assistance.
My wonder has been momentarily paused, though, after reading an article from The Good News Network.
“After years of charity work on behalf of veterans, the Oscar-nominated actor (Gary Sinise) who played Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump, has launched a mental health wellness network to provide ‘transformative care, treatment, and training’ to veterans and first responders who are experiencing post-traumatic stress or substance abuse.
“The Gary Sinise Foundation Avalon Network aims to establish 20 treatment sites nationwide to serve thousands of veterans, first responders, and their families.
“An estimated 30% of first responders in the U.S. are dealing with depression and post-traumatic stress, and 1 in 3 veterans have suffered with mental health and brain issues since 2001.
“Building on the work of the Marcus Institute for Brain Health and the Boulder Crest Foundation’s Warrior PATHH program, Sinise is partnering with the Co-founders of The Home Depot, philanthropists Bernie Marcus and Arthur M. Blank, who each invested $20 million from their personal foundations to lay the groundwork,” the article explains.
If you or someone you know could benefit from this initiative, please click here.
ontheedgeofeverything 