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Healing Invisible Wounds: Programs Help Rural Vets with PTSD and Depression

By 2008, nearly 20 percent of military service members nationwide had returned from Iraq and Afghanistan reporting symptoms of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) or major depression, according to the report, Invisible Wounds of War. Yet, only slightly more than 50 percent have sought treatment.

Kognito Interactive: online training simulation

The Virginia Wounded Warrior Program Region I, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Health, and Kognito Interactive, has launched the Family of Heroes program, an interactive online training simulation.

BIAV Conference; VWWP Participation

Brain Injury Association of Virginia (BIAV) Conference

The Green Zone: A Program to Support Military Students on Campus

With the advent of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, many colleges and universities have seen significant growth in the numbers of veterans and other military students on their campuses.

ACME supports the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program

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For Military Parents

Helping Your Child

Even the youngest child can be affected by the changes your family faces. Understanding this is the first of a few simple steps you can take to help your child cope.

What To Expect

If you are experiencing any kind of stress or trauma, chances are your children are, too. They may have all kinds of feelings, including:

Worry
Sadness
Anxiety
Anger

What To Look For

Kids can't always tell you what's going on; instead they show it. Depending on age, your child may:

Seem uninterested in you or in fun things
Do things they've grown out of, like thumb-sucking
Have problems eating or sleeping
Feel anxious when separated from you
Act out by hitting or pushing
Cling, cry, whine - a lot
Constantly try to get your attention

What You Can Do

Your child's reactions might be frustrating, or even hard to understand. Try to:

Provide extra attention
Listen
Be open to talking about the hard things
Let them know their feelings are normal
Keep things steady and routine
Follow through with plans and promises
Respond with patience, not anger

Learn more:

Helping Children Cope During Deployment (PDF)
Honoring Our Babies and Toddlers
Sesame Workshop-Talk, Listen, Connect: website includes videos, Sesame Family Connections, and much more.
The Real Warriors Campaign: an initiative launched by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) to promote the processes of building resilience, facilitating recovery and supporting reintegration of returning service members, veterans and their families.
Sesame Workshop helps children cope with grief
April is the month of the military child
Part 1: Preparing children for deployment
Part 2: Taking care of you-Taking care of your children
Part 3: Transitioning through a reunion

Brought to you by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services