Dear Editor,
The definition of insanity is repeating an action while expecting different results. There are few issues with as many missed opportunities as veterans’ health and quality-of-life. Whether lacking creativity or undervaluing individualism, current programs are not fully serving those who served us. Throwing hospitals, doctors, and outreach initiatives at the problem has not inhibited an unacceptably high rate of adverse outcomes for veterans, especially suicide.
Traditional clinical treatment is not accessible, affordable, or even effective on its own. Reintegration requires tremendous vulnerability. Too much time in medical settings is psychologically detrimental. It is a positive feedback loop: “Here I am again. Something is really wrong.” Veterans need to be fulfilled in their lives, engaged in their communities, and comfortable in their own skin. Rehabilitation and counseling centers are just one piece of the puzzle. Over two-thirds of veterans who commit suicide never seek support.
The VHA’s Behavioral Health Autopsy Program studies thousands of suicides, trying to pinpoint warning signs. The three highest risk factors for veteran suicide are physical symptoms: pain (55.9%), sleep difficulty (51.7%), and increased health problems (40.7%). All are alleviated by exercising and socializing. The implication is clear. There must be more investment in active, veteran-friendly environments which set goals.
Veterans should be given enjoyable activity and existential purpose, moving bodies while stimulating minds. Self-esteem, positivity, energy, and motivation all flow from there. A 2011 study in Public Health Reports found that veterans “who reported at least 20 minutes of vigorous physical activity twice weekly had significantly decreased odds for new-onset and persistent PTSD symptoms.” Dr. Bessel van der Kolk advocates “embodied mindfulness”: Physical conditioning grounds veterans in the “safe” present, separating trauma as part of their past.
What would such resources entail? No imagination is necessary. In Billings and Helena, the Adaptive Performance Center (APC) operates a veterans-only fitness facility. Over 1,200 have enrolled as members. While based around an accessible-to-all gym, APC is a fully encompassing wellness center. In addition to classes and trainers, APC offers occupational therapy, massage/acupuncture, mentorship, veteran advocacy, and a food bank.
When reading feedback from APC members, it becomes impossible to deny the potency of intersecting a familiar community with a natural activity. 58-year-old T.K: “APC has changed my life! I have more confidence in myself and am able to put my mental health first now.” 47-year-old M.G: “APC has given me the connection I lost when I left the military. It is truly a safe space for all veterans… without a doubt APC saved my life…” 41-year-old J.F: “I feel like I always have somewhere to go, which is rare to find as a veteran.”
Throughout the country, recreational reintegration – such as equine therapy, outdoor groups, and sports leagues – instills normalcy and possibility in veterans. Community organizations understand the interests and needs of those they serve. They are best-equipped, through camaraderie and exercise, to show veterans that they deserve a secure, healthy place in society. Agencies and benefactors should allocate support accordingly.
Matt Benowitz and Karen Pearson
Billings
