Meeting the Unique Mental Health Needs of Veterans
Health July 7, 2017
By Melanie Dallas, LPC
The statistics were shocking. A 2014 study by the Veterans Administration (VA) found that 22 veterans were taking their own lives each day in the U.S. A follow-up study published last year found that although suicides among veterans were decreasing, there was still an average of 20 veteran suicides each day. The latter study also found that while veterans accounted for only 8.5 percent of the U.S. adult population in 2014, they accounted for 18 percent of all deaths by suicide.
While it can be easy to assume veterans’ experiences in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – in which thousands of young adults experienced physical and psychological injuries – were driving these tragic numbers, it is more complicated than that. In fact, the 2016 report found the majority of veterans dying by suicide – 65 percent – were aged 50 and older. The VA concluded the overall risk for suicide among veterans was 21 percent higher than for civilian adults.
Psychologists have long known that mental health disorders, including major depression and other mood disorders, are associated with an increased risk of suicide. And although not everyone that attempts suicide has mental illness, the vast majority – by some estimates, 90 percent – of individuals that complete suicide suffer from a mental health disorder.
There may be several conclusions that can be drawn from these reports, but a primary one is that many veterans are in need of mental and other behavioral health services. In addition, it would seem, many veterans are not receiving the services they need to successfully deal with the psychological effects of their military service – whatever those may be and however they occurred.
As the number of veterans in need of mental health services – and healthcare services in general – surged with the wars in the Middle East, the Veterans Administration found itself overwhelmed. In order to help meet the needs of these and other veterans, the VA began partnering with local healthcare providers.
In Georgia, the Atlanta VA Medical Center partners with Highland Rivers Health to provide behavioral health services for veterans – and Highland Rivers has become one of the largest providers of these services to veterans in the state.
As a VA partner, Highland Rivers is able to provide services to veterans who have VA healthcare benefits. But all of our services are available to veterans, even those that do not have VA benefits or are uninsured.
Highland Rivers has worked to tailor our services to the unique needs of veterans as well, and several of our therapists are STAR-certified behavioral health providers (meaning they have completed intensive training developed by the Center for Deployment Psychology to meet the deployment-related psychological needs of veterans and their families).
Currently, Highland Rivers provides a variety of services specifically for veterans, including outpatient counseling for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), prolonged exposure and military sexual abuse. We also offer PTSD and veteran peer support groups, so veterans can learn from others who have had similar experiences and can relate to their challenges.
In addition, Highland Rivers provides crisis intervention and stabilization, veteran-specific supportive housing assistance, supported employment, substance use treatment and community support services, among other programs.
Although there is no easy solution to the problem of veteran suicide, it is critical that veterans receive the mental health treatment services they need to help them recover from trauma, depression, mood disorders or substance use disorders associated with their service.
Highland Rivers believes that recovery is always possible and that no veteran should feel the only choice is to end his or her life. Highland Rivers is close by and ready to help. For an appointment, call us at (800) 729-5700 or speak with your VA case manager about receiving services from Highland Rivers Health.
Melanie Dallas is a licensed professional counselor and CEO of Highland Rivers Health, which provides treatment and recovery services for individuals with mental illness, substance use disorders, and intellectual and developmental disabilities in a 12-county region of northwest Georgia that includes Bartow, Cherokee, Floyd, Fannin, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk and Whitfield counties.
The Democrat Collapse; Can it Recover?
Politics June 23, 2017
In the wake of Karan Handles election victory over the youthful Democrat candidate Jon Ossoff in Georgia’s 6th District special election, and three other less newsworthy special elections elsewhere in the US, it is only now starting to dawn on democrats that they might actually have a real leadership problem. Already accusative fingers have pointed to Nancy Pelosi, not that she’s not a dedicated Progressive, but because she has become the elderly face of the growingly dysfunctional Democrat Party and an albatross around the party’s neck.
In my essay of 19 June 2017, The Democrat Party’s Future?, I rhetorically asked: “Who else do they have who could possibly stand for POTUS? Count any Democratic Senator or Congressman out.” A betrayed Bernie Sanders, at 79, will go his own way. Princess Elizabeth Warren may not even be reelected again as senator in her home state. Besides, she’s seventy, while Nancy Pelosi is 80. And Joe Biden? Naw, at 78, he’s just a silly ol’ goose that has lost his luster! Schumer is delusional and will never leave the Senate. The reality is now setting in.
Already young democrat congressmen, some we have never heard of before, are being interviewed by radio hosts, both progressive and conservative on the Democrat party’s problems, and their response is the same. Their elderly leadership is totally out of any ideas except the imperative that Trump be impeached and replaced with their champion Hillary Clinton who won the majority vote. Of course, they won’t recognize that the voter registration fraud investigation now underway, has already revealed enough ineligible voters found makes Trumps claim, that he actually won the popular vote, a reality. Forget Hillary too. She’s through.
One or two mentioned that the Democrat congressional leadership is so focused on alleged Russian interference in the election, collusion and collaboration, and Comey’s illegal firing, none of which have any basis in truth, that they failed to watch their backs while Trump goes about happily repealing and replacing the hundreds of Obama’s restrictive rules and regulations strangling the American economy. Americans want jobs. Nobody cares about Russia. One interviewee even noted the hypocrisy of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer railing on about the GOP’s repeal and replacement of the failing Obamacare without Democrat input into the GOP’s plan, which was exactly what the Democrats did when forcing Obamacare on a willing American public.
The Democrat party, having long ago embraced socialism, has cunningly, slowly and most intentionally set about dividing Americans. The ADA was integral to that effort. In his Progressive enthusiasm at seeing the coming end of America, Obama chucked the final spear that divided us and assumed that all Americans would gladly go along with it. They didn’t!
Today, there is no political unity in our ultra-polarized country, and honestly, there shouldn’t be. The polarization exists because the Marxist side wants to “fundamentally transform” America, meaning to destroy the things that make America exceptional. There will never be a return to bipartisanship such as the #Never Trump Republican, John Kasich envisions, because Democrats are really not our friends holding different opinions. They are dyed in the wool, hard line communists of the Marxist variety and do not intend to lose the gains they have spent decades creating without a fight, even if it spills out onto our streets. As we see, it already has. Democrat hostility and character assassination is political theater meant to fool the base into thinking the party is on their side and cares for them. Sadly, Republicans elites too often feel it their duty to appease the left and defend their corruption.
Remember, freedom is the goal, the Constitution is the way. Now, go get ‘em! (23Jun17)
Republicans Never Learn – (D) Jon Ossoff Almost Flipped the GA 6th District
Politics April 19, 2017
Will (R) Karen Handel embrace or distance herself from President Donald Trump? Will Trump voters come out and vote for Karen Handel? How hard will Dan Moody, Judson Hill, and Bob Gray work to convince their voters to vote for Karen Handel? If Fulton County is the Republican stronghold of the district then why did Ossoff get 41,269 votes? Ossoff received almost as many votes in Fulton County as Gray, Handel and Moody combined. Donald Trump is President of the United States because he did not used the “Republican Playbook.” By using the playbook the Republicans almost lost the 6th district. When will Republicans learn to throw the playbook out the window – Trump style?
James Thompson, Rural America Model Democrat Candidate
Business April 12, 2017
From Wichita, Kansas to Roswell, Georgia – If Democrats have any hopes of recapturing The House of Representatives in 2018 they will need to reconnect with rural America. James Thompson turned out to be the picture perfect Democrat candidate. Thompson opposed Kansas State Treasurer, (R) Ron Estes, for the Kansas 4th Congressional district. This was a special election to replace Mike Pompeo, who is now the CIA Director. Democrats are trying to figure out how to reconnect with voters in the heartland.
Kansas is a very red state, so red that Donald Trump won by 27 percent and Pompeo won reelection to the seat with a 30 percent margin. Questions surround why a Democrat was able to get 48 percent of the vote. Estes won the seat with 53 percent of the vote.
During Thompson’s campaign it was somewhat difficult to recognise he was running as a Democrat. There was noticeable distance between him and the party. Also, what should not go unnoticed is that his campaign highlighted pro-second amendment, veterans, families, government waist, along with most of issues important to middle America. This kind of campaign could easily confuse voters that do not pay attention to part lines. But when it’s over, Thompson is a Democrat. If he had won he would definitely have followed the direction of Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi.
#BKP questions whether the voters in Witchita Kansas did not see Estes as a strong candidate, have already turned against President Donald Trump, or are they holding the Republicans in The House of Representative responsible for not repealing and replacing Obama Care. Democrats will continue to take the temperature of the country as they move towards the 6th district of Georgia, where (D) Jon Ossoff has the lead among 18 candidates. Ossoff’s campaign has approximately 8 million dollars to spend, thanks in large part to the DCCC, MoveOn.org, and liberal publications like the Daily Kos.
Lets to the comparable; A district in Kansas that Trump won by 27 percent, the Republican could only win 53 percent to the Democrat 48 percent. Now fast forward to the 6th district in Georgia, that Trump only carried by 1.5 percent and the Democrat has 10 times more campaign cash to spend than Thompson had in Kansas. If the Democrats win on April 18th it will set the tone for the 2018 elections. If Republicans win it will be just another tax day.
Georgia Speaker of The House David Ralston Talks About Rural Georgia Issues, Health Care…
Featured, Politics April 17, 2017
Our interview Friday with Speaker of The House David Ralston focused on rural Georgia. Ralston went into detail about the new Rural Georgia Economic Council. This council will be co-chaired by (R) Terry England from Auburn, (R) Jay Powell from Camilla and Vice Chair (R) Sam Watson from Moultry. The council will be holding meetings across Georgia to hear from elected officials, local businesses and citizens about how they feel rural Georgia economy can best be improved. Ralston said jokingly that he better not find out that one meeting took place in Atlanta.
Health care is a major concern in rural Georgia. Several hospitals have closed in rural Georgia areas including one in Ralston’s district in North Georgia. We spoke to Ralston abut one possible solution to meet rural Georgia health care needs. Ralston used the example of the first stand alone emergency room, opened by Piedmont Mountainside Hospital in Gilmer county. In this interview we asked Ralston if Gilmer county still had the possibility of having a full hospital.
Ralston told us that sometime within the next month Governor Nathan Deal would be visiting Gilmer county’s Fire Station 1 to sign the fire fighter’s workmen’s compensation bill. We asked Ralston the difference in this years campus carry bill opposed to last year’s bill which Governor Deal vetoed. Not being able to speak for the Governor, Ralston said he felt they made the changes necessary to get Deal to sign the bill. We also discussed the pay raises agreed upon in the 2017 legislative session for teachers, state law enforcement, and D.F.C.S workers.
Our final question in our interview friday: Speaker Ralston do you see the governor’s mansion in your future?
Snowden: A Hero or a Traitor Part ll
Politics, Videos January 10, 2017
Is Snowden a hero or a traitor? The NSA Stellar Wind program violated constitutional rights. Why is an American, who is revealing an illegal program, punished? Edward is still in asylum in Russia. Will Trump compromise with Snowden when Putin hands over Snowden?
Isakson, Perdue, Carter Praise Passage Of Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers Reauthorization
Featured December 14, 2016
Contacts
Caroline Vanvick, 202-224-6594
Megan Whittemore, 202-228-1023
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 13TH, 2016
Isakson, Perdue, Carter Praise Passage Of Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers Reauthorization
Bill reauthorizes critical training programs headquartered in Georgia
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA) and U.S. Representative Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA-01) today praised the bicameral passage of their legislation to reauthorize Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC). The bipartisan FLETC reauthorization bill will now to go President Obama’s desk for his signature.
Reauthorizing our Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers is key to ensuring that our federal law enforcement officials and first responders are adequately trained for national security events, domestic threats, and combating terrorism. The legislation was originally introduced by Congressman Carter and then amended in the Senate by Senator Perdue in order to obtain additional bipartisan support.
“The training our law enforcement officers receive each year at Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers is key to ensuring our national security,” said Senator Isakson. “I am proud to fight for FLETC so that its facilities can continue to deliver preeminent training to our federal law enforcement officials. I’m thankful for what FLETC achieves in Glynco, Ga., and this reauthorization is important news.”
“We are fortunate FLETC is headquartered in Georgia,” said Senator Perdue. “Every year, FLETC’s facilities deliver a range of training to 96 federal partner organizations and thousands of state, local, and international law enforcement officers. As training needs evolve to combat the growing global security crisis we face today, so do FLETC’s unique capabilities which is why it remains a top training center for many agencies. I applaud the passage of this bill and look forward to seeing it signed into law.”
“FLETC is the preeminent facility for law enforcement training in the United States,” said Congressman Carter. “While FLETC has provided topnotch training since its creation, Congress has failed to provide FLETC with a reauthorization. This legislation is critical to ensure authorities are codified into law so FLETC can continue to provide the highest quality and most cost effective training possible. I am thrilled this legislation passed today and I look forward to it becoming law.”
Background:
Established in the 1970s as a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, FLETC was created to provide cost-effective basic and advanced training for federal law enforcement officers. With the formation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2003, FLETC was formally transferred from the Treasury Department to DHS to serve as the law enforcement training hub for a variety of national and international law enforcement personnel and partner organizations. Since its establishment and the department transfer, FLETC has not been reauthorized by Congress.
The FLETC main campus is headquartered in Glynco, GA, and has grown over the years to include facilities in Artesia, NM, Charleston, SC, Cheltenham, MD, and Gabarone, Botswana. Today, FLETC supports 96 agencies, trains more than 70,000 students annually, and employs more than 3,000 Georgians and almost 600 New Mexicans.
U.S. Representative Buddy Carter (R-GA-01) introduced the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers Reform and Improvement Act of 2015 in the U.S. House of Representatives, which passed overwhelmingly in December 2015. Senators Isakson and Perdue, along with Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate on April 13, 2016. Both versions of the legislation were amended and passed the Senate by voice vote on Saturday, December 10, 2016. The House agreed to the Senate amendments to the House version today, December 13, 2016.
View the full text of the legislation here.
Cartecay Vineyard receives highest award for Chimney Blush
Featured, Lifestyle November 29, 2016
Cartecay Vineyards’ Chimney Blush recently received the highest award given for a Hybrid Grape Wine.
The award was received at the Georgia Wine Trustees Wine Challenge:The Thomas McCall Award for Best Hybrid Grape Wine 2016. This competition for Georgia wineries is Co-Directed by Jane Garvey and Douglas Mabry, with Parks Redwine presiding as Chief of Judges.
The Georgia Trustees Wine Challenge recognizes the excellence of Georgia-produced wines as well as other wines produced by Georgia wineries using grapes and fruits grown in other states. ALL ENTRIES MUST BE FERMENTED IN GEORGIA
The “NOT 100% Georgia grown” entries MAY list Georgia as an appellation on their label as Federal law allows 25% of the grapes or fruit to come from outside the state and still be labelled Georgia. Even wines with NO fruit grown in Georgia may be an eligible entry IF the wine is “produced” (i.e., fermented) in Georgia. It may also be “produced” by one Georgia winery and “vinted” by a different Georgia winery.
A wine whose label says “Made and Bottled” infers that at least 10% of the wine is made by the winery or company listed. If the label says “Vinted and Bottled,” the winery on the label may have had little to do with the making of the wine in that bottle.
Technically, a wine “vinted and bottled” by an out-of-state (non-Georgia) winery COULD be eligible for entry IF the wine was actually 100% fermented by a Georgia winery. A wine “Produced and Bottled” would have to be 100% fermented by a Georgia winery. Thus, if a wine so labeled is NOT from a Georgia winery, that wine may NOT be entered in the competition.
Cartecay Vineyards’ wines also received the following medals at the event: Chimney Blush, Gold; 2015 Vidal Blanc, Bronze; 2014 Traminette, Bronze.
Georgia State Patrol sends warning on placing homemade/advertising signs – It is illegal and will be enforced!
Featured, News November 23, 2016
FetchYourNews.com recently spoke with the Georgia State Patrol regarding individuals who are placing illegal signage on State Roadways and on State Road Signs.
It is illegal and dangerous. Road signs are engineered to breakaway in a safe manner if a motorist loses control of a vehicle and hits a sign. If someone places another sign, such as a homemade sign, on the structure, it changes the engineering and becomes a hazard. If you put up a sign on the roadway or in the median and someone wrecks it could put you in a position of liability to be sued for their injuries and damages.
Georgia State Patrol wants to send the warning – if anyone is caught placing any signage on road signs or otherwise on the road illegally the law will be enforced with no exceptions. The idea is to keep the roads as safe as possible for travelers. Just because you have done so in the past doesn’t make it okay and violators will find themselves in trouble. If people have been warned and cited it may end up with an individual going to jail.
No one may place, maintain, or display on, or in view from any highway an unauthorized sign, signal, marking, or device that purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles any official traffic control device (such as a stop or slow sign) that attempts to direct traffic movement or that hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic control device or sign. No one may place or maintain, nor may any public authority permit, commercial advertising on any highway traffic sign or signal. The state or local traffic authority with jurisdiction over the highway may cause any prohibited sign, signal, or marking to be removed without notice as a public nuisance (CGS § 14-310).
See this link for additional info: Road Sign Laws
Georgia State Patrol Making Final Preparations for the Thanksgiving Travel Period
Community, Featured November 23, 2016
State troopers urge safety for the Thanksgiving holiday. The holiday travel period is 102 hours and it begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23, and ends at midnight Sunday, November 27.
“Troopers will be focusing on occupant protection violations, and keeping a close eye out for impaired drivers and other traffic violations that could potentially cause a crash,” said Colonel Mark W. McDonough, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety. “We want to make holiday travel as safe as possible,” he added.
Last year, during a similar 102-hour period, troopers investigated 788 traffic crashes across the state that resulted in 377 injuries and nine fatalities. In addition to the traffic crash investigations, troopers arrested 319 people for driving under the influence while issuing 9,620 citations and 15,729 warnings.
Troopers will not only be patrolling the interstates but the secondary roads as well. Make sure that everyone in your vehicle is wearing a seat belt and that small children are properly restrained in a child safety seat. Also, do not drive distracted and obey the posted speed. If you know that you will be consuming alcohol, designate a sober driver. “Sadly, each holiday period more than one-half of the people killed in motor vehicle crashes are impaired or not using safety belts,” Colonel McDonough said.
The Georgia State Patrol will also be teaming up with law enforcement officials from across the state for a concerted effort to encourage safe travel through Operation Click It or Ticket, Georgia’s high visibility seat belt enforcement program and Operation C.A.R.E., or Combined Accident Reduction Effort. Operation C.A.R.E. is a nationwide traffic safety initiative aimed at reducing the number of crashes, injuries and fatalities on the nation’s roads by balancing high visibility enforcement with educational outreach.
The holiday traffic count will be updated throughout the holiday travel period on the Georgia Department of Public Safety Twitter page: https://twitter.com/ga_dps.
North Georgia Communities Feed Thanksgiving meal to Firefighting volunteers working away from home
Featured, News November 25, 2016
Raging fires have been spreading through dry land in the North Georgia Mountains for weeks. A few sprinkles of rain fell in the past few days but really didn’t make much of an impact.
The local community appreciates the firefighters and a local church in Chatsworth decided to show it on Thanksgiving Day! The First Baptist Church of Chatsworth fed over 400 out of town firefighters who didn’t make it home to be with their families. Locals from various areas including Blue Ridge brought food to the Church to assist in the program to feed the firefighters. Much of the food cooked in their homes and a local Ingles Market also took orders from those who wanted to donate a meal but didn’t have time to cook.
A local man told us, “It’s a small effort to say a big thank you to those firefighters protecting us and our homes.”
Firefighters have been working tirelessly for weeks to battle the wildfires and a home cooked meal of turkey was an extension of the gratitude felt by the folks in the North Georgia Mountains.
Rough Ridge Fire Update
Air Quality Summary Report – Rough Ridge Wildfire
Featured, News November 12, 2016
Chattahoochee National Forest
November 12, 2016
Rough Ridge Fire Information: 470.208.2839
Weather Forecast
An area of high pressure will build into the region from the north and bring east to northeast winds today and freezing temperatures tonight. Maximum Temperature is 62F. Minimum Relative Humidity will 30%. Winds are expected to be East 6 – 11 mph then becoming 4-9 mph around 11am. Smoke will start settling in low areas around 7pm.
Yesterday: The monitor in Ellijay recorded hourly concentrations classified as very unhealthy, while drifting smoke resulted in a moderate AQI in Chatsworth and Blue Ridge.
Today: The upper level winds (5 to 7 miles per hour) are slowly dispersing the smoke in a southwesterly or westerly direction. Communities in the flow of the smoke may experience very unhealthy air quality.
Smoke impacts should be low in most of the communities listed below with the predicted weather pattern and anticipated fire behavior.
Tomorrow: Winds speeds will increase slightly (upper level winds between 6 to 8 miles per hour) and switch direction from Chatsworth/Eton to Benton and Ocoee and then Blue Ridge. These communities may experience an AQI of code orange or red.
Community
Yesterday’s
AQI
Today’s
AQI
Tomorrow’s
AQI
Comments
McCaysville
No monitor
Good
Good
Winds will disperse the smoke away from McCaysville.
Blue Ridge
Moderate
Good
Unhealthy
Smoke will disperse towards Blue Ridge after the sun sets on Sunday.
Ellijay
Very Unhealthy
Good
Good
Winds will disperse the smoke away from Ellijay.
Chatsworth and Eton
Moderate
Very Unhealthy
Unhealthy
Today, already recorded hourly concentrations classified as very unhealthy. Smoke from wildfire dispersing towards Chatsworth and Eton today and a portion of tomorrow.
Benton and Ocoee, TN
Good
Good
Unhealthy for
Sensitive Group
Early tomorrow morning the winds shift toward Benton and Ocoee, TN.
Disclaimer: Weather and fire activity may change quickly and alter these air quality predictions. AQI estimates for the communities do not represent a full 24-hour period but, rather, reflect a period within the day where smoke impacts would be greatest.
Air Quality Index
What the Index means for your health with regards to particulates from smoke
Good
None
Moderate
Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Although general public is not likely to be affected at this AQI range, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air.
Unhealthy
Everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, and members of the sensitive groups may experience more serious effects.
Very Unhealthy
Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.
Hazardous
Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects.
Trump Campaign Insider Lee Snover 9/14/16
GMFTO September 14, 2016
Exclusive internal polling data on the Presidential Campaign in Pennsylvania. Did the Clinton Campaign Intentionally call Trump Supporters Deplorable to segregate? Lee Snover joins GMFTO from Pennsylvania to bring this and more to our Election Coverage.
State National 9/14/16
GMFTO September 14, 2016
George offers opinions on Obama’s Campaign and America’s threats as well as his Short Moments for GMFTO.