Director's Veteran Message June 27, 2025

PTSD is a condition that can profoundly impact the lives of those who have served our country, but it is important to remember that it is treatable. With the right care and support, many individuals experience significant improvement.

The VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) provides a wide range of services and options to help Veterans who are experiencing PTSD. We offer comprehensive programs such as the PTSD Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Program (PPRP), which provides holistic care tailored to an individual’s needs. In addition, our mental health professionals are continually trained in the latest evidence-based treatments to ensure the highest standard of care.

On this National PTSD Awareness and Screening Day, I encourage all Veterans to take advantage of the resources available to them. Early screening and intervention are crucial steps toward recovery and higher quality of life.

Honoring Our Champions 

I am excited to share some wonderful news and extend my heartfelt congratulations to our athletes who recently competed in the National Veterans Golden Age Games. We had an outstanding showing with 25 participants who brought home an impressive 36 gold medals, 18 silver medals, 14 bronze medals, and 39 ribbons. We salute all the participants for their dedication, hard work, and for bringing home not just medals, but immense pride to our community.

Your achievements inspire us, and we are motivated by your strength and resilience. We promise to keep striving for excellence in all that we do and working together to better serve you. Thank you for your service and for allowing us the privilege to care for you.

Have Questions About Your Medication Delivery?

We are committed to making sure you get the care and medication you need when you need it.  While most prescriptions arrive on time, if it has been more than 14 days since your medication was ordered, we’re here to help. Please call 1-800-214-1306 and press 1 for pharmacy to speak with someone who can assist you.  If you need assistance after 4pm Hawaii Standard Time, the Office of Connected Care has On-Demand Services available for Veterans after normal business hours. These services can be accessed by calling 1-833-983-0487. This number is toll free in Hawaii, and standard calling charges for off-island calls apply in Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, and American Samoa. 

Thoughts from Chaplain Richie Charles

Does it ever feel like you’re losing steam? Like a steam train running low on fuel, losing steam can occur when prolonged and unmanaged stress quietly erodes your optimism and enthusiasm. Work that once sparked passion may give way to feelings of indifference or even cynicism. The drive that once powered you forward gets replaced by an abiding sense of inner exhaustion, and without realizing it, your creativity can begin to wane. When one starts to lose steam, one may not even notice exactly when things started to derail—only that now you’re just chugging along, struggling to keep momentum. I’d like to discuss three helpful strategies to begin replenishing our own reserves.

Refueling

Just as a steam train relies on water and a fuel source like coal, wood, or oil to create steam, we need regular refueling to maintain our “engine”. Helpful questions for reflection might be: is my output greater than my input? Are the demands exceeding my supply? Am I giving out more than what I am investing into myself? To keep refreshing others, one must first refresh oneself. This doesn’t mean you stop helping others; it means being intentional about making “self-deposits” first. We simply cannot give what we do not have. Whether through rest, proper nourishment, or support, tending to your own fuel levels ensures you can keep going strong.

Releasing

Steam trains need to release pressure to function properly, and so do we. As stress builds, we must find healthy outlets to vent and release. Believing that every problem is ours to fix, or shouldering everything alone, can lead to burnout. Like a pressure valve, we must release what we can’t contain by seeking support, collaborating with others, or delegating tasks. In so doing, we are enabled to give our best, not just our rest.

Resting

No steam train can run indefinitely without stopping for maintenance and cooldown. Similarly, rest is not a luxury, but a necessity. True rest allows your engine to cool and your fuel to be restored. By incorporating intentional rest—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—you return to your work invigorated for better service.

One Team, One Ohana!

Thandiwe Nelson-Brooks, MPH, FACHE 

Interim Medical Center Director

VA Pacific Islands Health Care System

Stay Informed

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