NEWS WINK
Veterans are taking their own lives at an alarming rate, and experts say the problem isn’t slowing down. A new association will provide a place to treat veterans and families facing mental illness for free.
More than 100,000 people in Southwest Florida will be able to take advantage of this program.
There are the war wounds that we can see, and then there are the invisible wounds. Veterans are suffering in silence. Matthew Loebs, who wore a uniform for 17 years and fought in Iraq, is one of them.
“With my own story and realizing the lack of that ongoing care once you get back from home base. This is exactly what was needed,” said Loebs.
Veterans Affairs says that each year, more than 6,000 veterans take their own lives. Five hundred of them are in Florida.
Now, Home Base Florida and the David Lawrence Center are joining forces to help veterans throughout Southwest Florida at no cost to them.
Many veterans deal with emotional and mental health crises, post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, anger, grief and loss, transition challenges, and addiction.
“In all five boroughs, there are over 110,000 veterans here who live with us, but a significant portion of them are in Collier and Lee counties, so these are the top two counties where we see our veterans. ”, said Michael Allard, director of operations. for the Florida base of operations.
The challenge now is to get our silently suffering veterans to accept care. “I hope they see that there can be a positive ending. We don’t have to live in that dark time. For many years there was a lot of darkness, but once you can start dedicating that self-care and go through the process of getting treatment, there is a light at the end of the tunnel,” Loebs said.
Carrying home the burdens of war can be difficult for a veteran and his family. Home Base Florida and the David Lawrence Center have a plan to help. Now, so does Collier County.
“The veterans sitting in their chairs here were all thinking the same thing. We’re thinking about those 10 people we served with or who I commanded or whatever. These programs just make it that much easier to ensure they have the best chance of success,” said Collier County Commissioner Rick LoCastro.
LoCastro served 24 years in the Air Force, rising to the rank of Colonel. He knows that mental health services are critical when veterans return home.
“Nothing is guaranteed, it has to be the person, but when you don’t have support like this around a veteran and their families who need help, their chances are very slim,” LoCastro said.
LoCastro said state-funded veterans homes and center expansion are in the works.
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