From idaho_veterans at veterans.idaho.gov Tue Aug 17 10:03:01 2021 From: idaho_veterans at veterans.idaho.gov (Idaho Veterans) Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2021 16:03:01 +0000 Subject: [Idaho Veterans UPDATE] Afghanistan. Resources Available Right Now Message-ID: If you need help accessing your Veterans benefits please contact a state service officer in one of our Offices of Veterans Advocacy (OVA). Idaho State Offices of Veterans Advocacy Locations These offices can assist a Veteran with identifying what benefits they are eligible for and assisting them with applying for those benefits. OVA ? Main Office (208) 780-1380 444 West Fort Street Boise, ID 83702 OVA ? Caldwell (208) 780-1396 or (208) 780-1386 4514 Thomas Jefferson St. Caldwell, Idaho 83605 OVA ? Caldwell (2nd Location) (208) 616-0622 1101 Cleveland Blvd Caldwell, Idaho 83605 OVA ? Twin Falls (208) 736-0719 650 Addison Ave West Suite 1076 Twin Falls, ID 83301 OVA ? Pocatello (208) 244-3873 430 N 5th Ave Pocatello, ID 83201 OVA ? Lewiston (208) 748-7663 2604 16th Avenue, Suite "A" Lewiston, Nez Perce, ID, 83501 OVA ? Post Falls (208) 446-1096 Resources and Advice 120 East Railroad Avenue Post Falls, Kootenai, ID, 83854 [US Department of Veterans Affairs] [facebook][twitter][instagram][youtube][RP][Podcast][blog][website][contact us] [https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/USVA/2019/03/2468754/2607598/yellow-line_crop.jpg] Veterans from all eras are reacting to the events in Afghanistan, such as the U.S withdrawal and the takeover by the Taliban. You are not alone. Veterans may question the meaning of their service or whether it was worth the sacrifices they made. They may feel more moral distress about experiences they had during their service. It?s normal to feel this way. Talk with your friends and families, reach out to battle buddies, connect with a peer-to-peer network, or sign up for mental health services. Scroll down for a list common reactions and coping advice. Resources available right now * Veterans Crisis Line - If you are having thoughts of suicide, call 1-800-273-8255, then PRESS 1 or visit http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ * For emergency mental health care, you can also go directly to your local VA medical center 24/7 regardless of your discharge status or enrollment in other VA health care. * Vet Centers - Discuss how you feel with other Veterans in these community-based counseling centers. 70% of Vet Center staff are Veterans. Call 1-877-927-8387 or find one near you. * VA Mental Health Services Guide - This guide will help you sign up and access mental health services. * MakeTheConnection.net - information, resources, and Veteran to Veteran videos for challenging life events and experiences with mental health issues. * RallyPoint - Talk to other Veterans online. Discuss: What are your feelings as the Taliban reclaim Afghanistan after 20 years of US involvement? * Download VA's self-help apps - Tools to help deal with common reactions like, stress, sadness, and anxiety. You can also track your symptoms over time. * Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) - Request a Peer Mentor * VA Women Veterans Call Center - Call or text 1-855-829-6636 (M-F 8AM - 10PM & SAT 8AM - 6:30PM ET) * VA Caregiver Support Line - Call 1-855-260-3274 (M-F 8AM - 10PM & SAT 8AM - 5PM ET) * Together We Served -Find your battle buddies through unit pages * George W. Bush Institute - Need help or want to talk? Check In or call:1-630-522-4904 or email: checkin at veteranwellnessalliance.org * Elizabeth Dole Foundation Hidden Heroes - Join the Community * American Red Cross Military Veteran Caregiver Network - Peer Support and Mentoring * Team Red, White & Blue - Hundreds of events weekly. Find a chapter in your area. * Student Veterans of America - Find a campus chapter to connect with. * Team Rubicon - Find a local support squad. Common Reactions In reaction to current events in Afghanistan, Veterans may: * Feel frustrated, sad, helpless, grief or distressed * Feel angry or betrayed * Experience an increase in mental health symptoms like symptoms of PTSD or depression * Sleep poorly, drink more or use more drugs * Try to avoid all reminders or media or shy away from social situations * Have more military and homecoming memories Veterans may question the meaning of their service or whether it was worth the sacrifices they made. They may feel more moral distress about experiences they had during their service. Veterans may feel like they need to expect and/or prepare for the worst. For example, they may: * Become overly protective, vigilant, and guarded * Become preoccupied by danger * Feel a need to avoid being shocked by, or unprepared for, what may happen in the future Feeling distress is a normal reaction to negative events, especially ones that feel personal. It can be helpful to let yourself feel those feelings rather than try to avoid them. Often, these feelings will naturally run their course. If they continue without easing up or if you feel overwhelmed by them, the suggestions below can be helpful. Strategies for Managing Ongoing Distress At this moment, it may seem like all is lost, like your service or your sacrifices were for nothing. Consider the ways that your service made a difference, the impact it had on others? lives or on your own life. Remember that now is just one moment in time and that things will continue to change. It can be helpful to focus on the present and to engage in the activities that are most meaningful and valuable to you. Is there something you can do today that is important to you? This can be as an individual, a family member, a parent, or a community member. Something that is meaningful to you in regard to your work or your spirituality? Such activities won?t change the past or the things you can?t control, but they can help life feel meaningful and reduce distress, despite the things you cannot change. It can also help to consider your thinking. Ask yourself if your thoughts are helpful to you right now. Are there ways you can change your thinking to be more accurate and less distressing? For example, are you using extreme thinking where you see the situation as all bad or all good? If so, try and think in less extreme terms. For example, rather than thinking ?my service in Afghanistan was useless? consider instead ?I helped keep Afghanistan safe.? Finally, consider more general coping strategies that you may want to try including: * Engage in Positive Activities. Try to engage in positive, healthy, or meaningful activities, even if they are small, simple actions. Doing things that are rewarding, meaningful, or enjoyable, even if you don?t feel like it, can make you feel better. * Stay Connected. Spend time with people who give you a sense of security, calm, or happiness, or those who best understand what you are going through. * Practice Good Self Care. Look for positive coping strategies that help you manage your emotions. Listening to music, exercising, practicing breathing routines, spending time in nature or with animals, journaling, or reading inspirational text are some simple ways to help manage overwhelming or distressing emotions. * Stick to Your Routines. It can be helpful to stick to a schedule for when you sleep, eat, work, and do other day-to-day activities. * Limit Media Exposure. Limit how much news you take in if media coverage is increasing your distress. * Use a mobile app. Consider one of VA?s self-help apps (see https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/) such as PTSD Coach which has tools that can help you deal with common reactions like, stress, sadness, and anxiety. You can also track your symptoms over time. * PTSD Coach Online. A series of online video coaches will guide you through 17 tools to help you manage stress. PTSD Coach Online is used on a computer, rather than a mobile device, and therefore can offer tools that involve writing. If you develop your own ways of adapting to ongoing events and situations, you may gain a stronger sense of being able to deal with challenges, a greater sense of meaning or purpose, and an ability to mentor and support others in similar situations. [AFghanistan] Afghanistan: How Veterans can reconcile service READ MORE ________________________________ [VetCenter] Afghanistan: How Veterans can learn from Vietnam Veterans READ MORE [VA Welcome Kit] Find a VA Facility near you. FACILITY LOCATOR Not sure where to start? VA WELCOME KIT Need to contact VA? Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 and press 1, Chat, or Text 838255 Homeless Veteran Resources: 1-877-424-3838 or Chat White House VA Hotline: 1-855-948-2311 Don't know what number to call? 1-800-MyVA411 (800-698-2411) is never the wrong number ________________________________ Want to receive other VA updates? 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