Director's Message June 16, 2023

These closures are so that Veterans and staff can take time to celebrate Juneteenth. Juneteenth is not a new holiday. It has been celebrated since 1865. However, it was only recently recognized by the Federal Government in 2021.

Black Americans have been in the United States of America since before the American Revolution. More than 200 years before the Declaration of Independence in 1776, there were Black Americans on this soil building this Nation.

The United States has a past that has always included many races and many cultures; but it also has a history of excluding voices and denying rights to certain citizens since before it officially began.

Juneteenth celebrates the day in 1865 when Black Americans in Texas learned that they were no longer considered slaves by their government. They were the last enslaved Black Americans to hear this news, over 300 years after their ancestors arrived in the Americas.

We must include these facts as part of our American history. It is important to know our origin stories and to acknowledge them as a vital and vibrant history of our country’s past.

 Our country’s greatness is not diminished by telling the full and true stories of our past. In fact, this only enhances and burnishes our ethos as a land of freedom and a beacon of justice for all.

The White House, the US Capitol Building, and many of the older buildings in our country were built by slaves. I urge all of you to take a moment to sit with that truth and think about how -at the time of our founding as a Nation- we claimed to be a country created with the ideal of freedom from slavery at its heart.

We claimed this while having enslaved people driving the economy, while building the Nation on land taken from Native Americans, and while denying women and other minorities a seat at the table. It seems almost inconceivable that so many were left out of the American Dream at its inception.

When we celebrate the history of Black Americans, we are celebrating a struggle that defines this country, because Black Americans held this country accountable to its promise of equality through the blood, sweat, and tears of our ancestors. We fought for voting rights, and for desegregation; and we continue to fight for equality in health care and in all things.

Juneteenth is one of those foundational moments when we leapt forward, one step closer to our stated goal to be one Nation -indivisible- with liberty and justice for all. But make no mistake we have many steps to go.

 Equality is not a place that we get to; it is a continuous journey. Freedom and democracy require devotion and work. They must be protected with careful stewardship and guarded against those who would seek to reverse our progress, or the progress of anyone else.

Our strength as a country lies in our differences. The United States of America is like a quilt where each square looks different -yet as a whole- it’s a beautiful blanket of languages, cultures, spiritual traditions, and ideas. We are a Nation of new ideas, and we could never have gotten to where we are without the voices of each and every one of us.

On Juneteenth, we celebrate the end of slavery.

As we continue in our struggle to respect and affirm all peoples, and their conditions and cultures, we must be strong and vigilant in our determination to show compassion, empathy, and integrity in our interactions and always do not only the right thing, but what is right.

Have a wonderful Juneteenth.

PTSD Awareness Month

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is triggered by a traumatic event. PTSD symptoms, including nightmares and unwanted memories of the trauma, irritability and angry outbursts can last for years if left untreated. Individuals with PTSD often feel disconnected from life, which can mean a lack of interest in hobbies and trouble maintaining relationships. Not everyone who endures a traumatic event will develop PTSD; however, for those who do, everyday life can feel unbearable.

The good news is that there are effective treatments available for Veterans with PTSD, and the VA is here to help. Many Veterans with PTSD can be effectively treated via a full round of evidence-based outpatient psychotherapy which typically involves weekly sessions. Daily intensive outpatient therapy is also available for those Veterans in need of a higher level of care. But what if outpatient therapy isn’t enough? That’s where the PTSD Residential Recovery Program (PRRP) can help. PRRP is an 8-to-9-week residential treatment program for male Veterans and active-duty service members with military-related PTSD. PRRP offers evidence-based group and individual therapy, as well as comprehensive psychiatric and medical care, peer support interventions, and therapeutic recreational activities. The program’s recovery and integrative treatment model is designed to decrease PTSD symptoms and increase effective coping skills.

A residential program can sound frightening to some people. Others might think that they don’t need it. However, Veterans deserve help, and there is no shame in asking for it. If a Veteran’s symptoms interfere with their ability to lead a happy and fulfilling life, the PRRP could be a great opportunity for them to reconnect with life and heal. To seek treatment demonstrates bravery and a commitment to recovering from a psychological injury.

Veterans do not have to have all of the symptoms described above to be eligible for PTSD treatment. Veterans can request to be evaluated for PTSD and seek treatment if needed at any time. Veterans can call 1-800-214-1306 to make an appointment with their provider to discuss any symptoms that they may be experiencing.

Additionally, the Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7.  Veterans struggling with depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, or any other issues can call the Veterans Crisis Line at any time. Call 988, then press 1.

June is PTSD Awareness Month, but the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) treats PTSD all year long. If you are a Veteran and you are interested in mental health care, please reach out. Mental health care is every bit as important as physical health care, and wounds of the mind are just as important – and as treatable as – wounds of the body.

Prepare for Emergencies

Part of maintaining your health is ensuring that you are prepared for emergencies. It’s hurricane season, and a storm could blow in at any time. We also have volcanos that can ground planes and cut off your access to mail-delivery prescriptions. There is more to being prepared than just setting aside canned foods, water, and batteries.

For diabetics, it’s important to protect your feet. You don’t want them to stay wet for too long. Therefore, your emergency kit should include dry pairs of socks and extra closed-toe shoes. It’s also important that you also don’t let your prescriptions run low. Experts recommend always having at least a 14-day supply of medication in your home. In case your prescriptions are damaged in a storm, make sure that you know how to get them replaced during an emergency. Talk to your care team if you have questions about what medications you should keep on hand, or if you have questions about prescriptions.

Being prepared also includes ensuring that your environment is safe. Check all window and door seals and patch any leaks in your roof. Make sure your yard is free of debris that could become airborne in a storm, and ensure that emergency vehicles can get to your house if they need to.

If you don’t have an emergency kit yet, please make sure you put one together. The State of Hawaii has some wonderful guides. I encourage you to look through VA Resources for disaster preparedness as well. Being prepared is an important way to keep your family safe and healthy.

Thoughts from Chaplain Richie Charles

Chances are, the sound of her name probably wouldn’t ring a bell. Yet, her rare qualities and legacy are enough to inspire and warm the heart of anyone who encounters her story.  Oseola McCarty’s life began very modestly in a small town in Wayne County, Mississippi in 1908.

Growing up in hardship, she started working at the tender age of eight, sacrificing her education to care for her sick aunt. For 75 years, Oseola worked as a laundress, washing clothes by hand, living frugally, and finding contentment in simplicity.

Oseola’s dedication and thriftiness allowed her to save small sums of money consistently over the years. Despite never owning a vehicle, she walked everywhere, depositing her savings in the bank monthly. A deeply spiritual woman, she began her days with prayer and embraced the tasks ahead cheerfully.

Living a life mostly in obscurity, Oseola surprised the world when it discovered her selfless act. After decades of toil, she decided to donate the majority of her life savings to students at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Having missed out on education herself, Oseola wanted to help others pursue their studies. By the end of her life, she had saved approximately $280,000, sharing part of it with relatives, her church, and donating $150,000 to college students.

Her generous donation caught worldwide attention, leading to her being awarded the Presidential Citizen’s Medal, the nation’s second-highest civilian honor, from President Bill Clinton. Oseola’s story reached various media outlets, including NBC, CNN, and People Magazine.

Never regretting her decision, Oseola expressed her only wish was to have more to give. Her selflessness reminds us that we can make a significant impact by attending to the small, yet important needs around us.

While our names may not be in the spotlight, we can still create tangible differences in the lives of those we serve daily.
 

One Team, One Ohana!
Adam M. Robinson, Jr., MD, MBA, CPE 
Director, VA Pacific Islands Health Care System
VADM, MC, USN, (RET)
36th Surgeon General, USN

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