Though the fight may seem like it already ended, coming home is not what it used to be for our beloved military people. For some, there is a never-ending war in their minds. Repetitive sounds of bombs going off, children crying, the voices of their fallen comrades, and showers of bullets are probably killing them in their sleep right now.

Depression is a very common symptom of PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is commonly known as “shell shock” or “combat stress”. The symptoms brought by combat stress can be very agonizing for war veterans. “To be diagnosed with PTSD, you usually have to be directly affected by the traumatic event, believing that your own life or those you care about are in danger,” says psychiatrist Elspeth Cameron Ritchie, MD, chief of psychiatry at Medstar Washington Hospital Center.

Combat stress gives a very heavy burden which is likened to the feeling of having the battlefield inside the mind. A lot of veterans would suffer from depression brought by the intense amount of stress from their experiences during the war. According to Alicia H. Clark, PsyD, “Working effectively with stress requires taking control of our responsibility and our attitude.” 

Now, you probably are feeling the urge to help out or reach out to these people. We all have been blessed with brave men and women who are ready to risk their lives even if it means suffering physically and mentally.

Now is the time to show our gratitude by helping them out in whatever situation they are in right now. “During a moment of offering kindness, there’s a certain kind of connection that can happen, especially if the other person receives it graciously,” says John Amodeo Ph.D., MFT.

The question is, with the feeling of gratitude we have in our hearts, how can we help them fight depression?

Reach Out And Talk To Them

Find someone whom you can thank for serving in the military. For people who are suffering from depression, it is a great help to make them feel that someone is there for them. Moreover, it would really have a greater effect on them to find out that some stranger is grateful for their lives.

If you feel like saying “thank you” is not enough, do what you think will make our heroes feel good. Take them out for lunch. Drive them to your friends and families. Let them share their inspiring stories to your loved ones.

Let them know that they are important and everything they have experienced is recognized. There are people who acknowledge their greatness and contribution to our country.

Volunteer And Initiate Professional Help

We all know that the best way to approach depression is through professional help and proper treatment. If you are not a professional, do not stop helping. You can always volunteer and give a hand not only to our soldiers but also to institutions and organizations who have the same mission. There are several groups and organizations out there that want to help out war veterans.

Soldier On is an organization that offers free service to veterans. You can do your research to find some institutions near you that would cater to volunteers. You can also offer to connect mental health professionals (try BetterHelp psychologists) to war veterans who are not yet connected with one.

Share Awareness

Share the truth about the condition of our war veterans. This is one way to show that you are really grateful for their sacrifices. Talk about this to your friends and families. Maybe, like you, they will also feel grateful for the sacrifices of our heroes.

One reality about the mental health field for militaries is that there are not enough psychiatrists for veterans as reported by The San Diego Union-Tribune. If you are a medical professional, a psychiatrist to be specific, another way to help out is to offer your services to the veterans. Talk about this need for mental health care. Who knows, you might just meet someone who is willing to help out our veterans!

 

 

The success of an organization or a club depends on its relevance to a campus or a school that it calls its home. A club can establish its relevance by keeping a large population base or by honing members who will take up the key positions. However, nothing can prove to be as effective as handling school-wide events effectively.

There are some guidelines that will help an organization handle an event successfully. Here are some key takeaways:

Make Sure of the Relevance of the Event

When conducting an event, make sure that it either addresses the current demands of the student body or it is timely and relevant to the occasion. During the enrollment period, the club might want to handle grievance drive or entertainment booth drive that will ease the students from their vacation mode. During the Halloween period, handling Halloween parties are a must, especially when raising funds.

You might also organize blood drives and donation campaigns during national disasters. You may even opt any event giving out free goodies, for any possible reason.

Prepare Down to the Last Logistics Need

Consequently, the club will be obliged to prepare the logistics needs of the event, especially when handling school-wide activities. This might need the extra attention of the club leaders for even a small lapse in logistics provision might prove to be detrimental to the entire event.

Always prepare an ‘emergency kit’ of the most useful tools during the event, such as a masking tape, a pair of scissors, a stereo jack, or even spare boxes. These small tools will prove to be handy especially when dealing with accidental lapses on stage.

Campaign Intensely

Nothing can be as effective as conducting a massive campaign for the event in making the event relevant and talk-of-the-town. By campaigning intensely, you will be ensured of meeting the minimum number of attendees for your event and will make your club look more legitimate.

You may want to utilize the power of social media in order to keep the event in people’s mind. You may also use text brigades as an alternative. In case that you have a spare budget for publicity, you may want to print out posters and place them to where people frequently stay (e.g. library, bulletin boards, coffee shops).

Secure Key Attendees

After campaigning, make sure that the event has reached its targeted audience. When handling an event for the freshmen students, make sure that your event invites will reach this group of people. Alternatively, when you want to conduct an academic event such as seminars and trainings, you may want to secure the presence of school instructors and teachers for added legitimacy and relevance.

Prepare Post-Event Campaigns

Lastly, your club will want to leave an impression to those who have attended the event. This is your chance to sell the name of the club for future memberships, or to ask for feedbacks for future event improvements. Preparing post-event gimmicks will make an impression on the people that your club cares for your audience and target participants.

Whatever event your club will organize, make sure that these basic tips will be followed accordingly. It will not only secure the legitimacy of your club, but will also show to the people the capability of the club to handle things on its own.

 

“Without getting into the details of the neural mechanisms, it turns out that experiencing gratitude for others goes beyond activating the reward circuitry of the brain that produces satisfaction; it also activates other areas of the brain linked with the ability to understand others’ mental states, moral judgments, and interpersonal bonding.” – Giacomo Bono Ph.D.

Like many other things in the world, “incredible” is relative. An incredible person may pertain to a recognized hero like a soldier who helped save the world during the war. But, it may also be a teacher working around the clock to educate the nation’s future leaders. These incredible people– do you know who they are? Continue reading “5 Underrated ‘Everyday Heroes’ In Our Lives”

 What do former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, and current U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry have in common? They were all members of their school clubs/organizations back in their student days. Continue reading “5 Reasons How Clubs Can Help You Grow Into Respectable People”

 Kids would know these guys as cool armored guys who would complete missions and save an innocent elderly person from the villains. In real life, it’s pretty much real. Only the missions are a lot harder, and the one that needs saving isn’t just the elderly person, but the whole country. Continue reading “Military Role Models: What They Sacrifice for the Country and Why We Should Thank Them”