PTSD Awareness Month

Not all PTSD is related to military service, but Veterans do experience PTSD at a higher rate than civilians. VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) has comprehensive mental health services which can be instrumental in helping people recovery from PTSD.

“A lot of people think of PTSD as something that they will be stuck with their entire lives,” said VA Psychologist Dr. Renee Boeck. “The truth is that treatments for PTSD have a high success rate. If you engage in therapy, you can recover from PTSD.”

Many Veterans have success with outpatient therapy. For those who need extra help, VAPIHCS offers a more intensive program. It’s called the PTSD Residential Recovery Program (PRRP). PRRP is an in-patient program where Veterans live at the facility and go through daily group and individual therapy. The program lasts for nine weeks and has succeeded in helping many Veterans live better and more mentally healthy lives.

For Veterans who can benefit from outpatient therapy, there are different levels of care. Many Veterans are fine with sessions once a week via video or in-person. Others do video appointments five days a week. Mental health care is tailored to the individual as much as possible because everyone has different needs. Mental Health also utilizes a variety of therapeutic methods. Three VAPIHCS providers recently completed training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. VAPIHCS is always trying to include all Evidence Based Practices (EBP) to help Veterans and it is excited to have EMDR as another possible option for treatment.

“Mental health care has come a long way,” said Dr. Boeck. “We use evidence-based practices to help Veterans heal from trauma, depression, PTSD, and other mental health challenges. That means we offer treatment that has been shown to help others and is likely to help you, too. We know that mental health can impact physical health, relationships, careers, and other areas of life.  Mental health is an essential element of people’s overall well-being, and we want to help you live the life that matters to you.”

Dr. Boeck encourages Veterans to seek help if they are struggling with mental health issues. In the past, mental health care wasn’t taken as seriously as physical ailments. Things have changed dramatically in recent years. Medical science has come to understand that metal health is a key component of overall health and needs to be considered in treatment.

Some Veterans feel like they shouldn’t speak about their trauma, depression, PTSD, or other mental health concerns. The military taught them to be tough, and that only the weak complain about physical or mental health struggles. They were taught to push their feelings down and focus on the job. Then, when they get out of the military, they sometimes find themselves stuck in old patterns; unable to speak up about things that they are having a hard time with.

“I want Veterans to know how important it is to speak up,” said Dr. Boeck. “It takes a lot of courage and strength to admit when you’re struggling. We can work with you through whatever challenges you are having. We have a variety of modalities to deliver care and we work exclusively with Veterans. Our therapists are equipped to handle the difficult stuff and work with all types of traumas, both military and non-military.”

If you are experiencing difficulties with your mental health, please call 1-800-214-1306 and make an appointment to speak with someone. You can also bring it up to your doctor during an appointment to get a referral to a therapist. Asking for help often requires strength and bravery, but it’s worth the effort. If you need help, please reach out.

Click here for our PSTD Awareness Podcast on “VAPIHCS Talk Story”