(Trigger Warning: Suicide) Wink News: New partnership is providing free mental health care to veterans

Veterans are taking their own lives at an alarming rate and experts say the problem is not slowing down. A new partnership will provide a place to treat veterans and families dealing with mental illness for free.

More than 100,000 people in Southwest Florida will be able to take advantage of this program.

There are the wounds of war 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 continued care once you come back from home base. This is exactly what was needed,” said Loebs.

Veterans Affairs says 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 across Southwest Florida at no cost to them.

Many veterans deal with mental and emotional health care crises, post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, anger, grief and loss, transitional challenges and addiction.

“In the five counties, you have over 110,000 veterans here that are living with us, but a significant portion of them are in Collier and Lee county, so this is the two top counties that we see our veterans,” said Michael Allard, COO for Home Base Florida.

The challenge now is to get our veterans who are suffering in silence to accept care. “I hope they see there can be a positive ending. We don’t have to live in that dark moment. For many years there was a lot of darkness, but once you can start dedicating that self-care and going through the process of getting the treatment, there is a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Loebs.

Bringing home the burdens of war can be hard for a veteran and his or her family to carry. Home Base Florida and the David Lawrence Center have a plan to help. Now, so does Collier County.

“The veterans sitting on their chairs here were all thinking the same thing. We’re thinking about those 10 people we served with or who I commanded or whatnot. These programs just make it that much easier to ensure that they have the best chance of success,” said Collier County Commissioner Rick LoCastro.

LoCastro served 24 years in the Air Force, making it all the way to the rank of Colonel. He knows mental health services are critical when veterans come 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,” said LoCastro.

LoCastro said state-funded veteran homes and center expansion are in the works.

*I wanted to share this article because I think we forget how much our veterans struggle with mental health after they come home from serving. As stated above, they can suffer with PTSD, addiction, depression, anxiety, loss, grief, and more. It's so important that we don't forget about them and are able to help provide them with those resources that are necessary to help with the transition back. I am excited that initiatives like this are starting to happen and more veterans will have access to mental health care!*

Do you know any veterans that came home and received mental health services? Did it seem to help them?

#MilitaryService #Veterans #VeteransMentalHealth

Read the full article and watch a video here.