If you missed last week’s article, it is Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM). The purpose of MHAM is to raise awareness about the importance of mental health, its impact, and breaking the stigma. Let’s talk.
Our mental health, not unlike our physical health, requires care when it is not well. Veterans tend to avoid professional treatment and resort to self-treatment or attempt to ignore it. While there may be many reasons for this behavior, I think a lack of knowledge and fear (of what others may think) play the biggest roles. We need to stop reaching for a hammer when there are plenty of other options in the toolbox. End the stigma, grab the digital caliper, call someone who knows how to properly use it, and improve your mental health.
For those Veterans enrolled in VA Health, you may be eligible for free mental health services to treat certain issues like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), military sexual trauma (MST), depression, and substance use problems. For those Veterans not enrolled in VA Health, please contact your local CVSO to apply for these services and many more.
Veteran Resilience Project (VRP), a Minnesota based non-profit, has organized a statewide network of mental health professionals with expertise using a highly effective treatment – Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Free EMDR therapy is provided to all MN Veterans (regardless of discharge status), service members, and spouses. More information can be found online at www.veteranresilienceproject.org or by calling 763-358-2275.
Another precision instrument for the toolbox is Vet Centers. The primary location in our area is Duluth (they do have some satellite locations). Taken from their webpage, “We offer confidential help for Veterans, service members, and their families at no cost in a non-medical setting. Our services include counseling for needs such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the psychological effects of military sexual trauma (MST). We can also connect you with more support in VA and your community”. Contact info: www.va.gov/duluth-vet-center or 218-722-8654.
Please don’t forget about the second annual Two Harbors Suicide Awareness Walk presented by Love Life. The community event is being held at Sonju Arena (301 8th Avenue, Two Harbors) on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 9 – 11AM.
If you are struggling and unsure about what to reach for in the toolbox, then please talk to your primary care provider, a family member, a friend, or call 988 (then press 1 if you are a Veteran). Resources and assistance are available.
Brad Anderson and Melissa Crandall are the Lake County Veterans Service Officers and can be reached at 218.834.8326 or cvso@co.lake.mn.us
Karen Christianson is the Cook County Veterans Service Officer and can be reached at 218.387.3639, or karen.christianson@co.cook.mn.us
