Service providers from Indiana and beyond attended Battlemind toHome IV Symposium, an event that aims to increase awareness about the challenges military families face when service members return home from combat.
Put on by the Roudebush VA Medical Center, the Department of Labor, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University, the event educated attendees about the physical and mental challenges faced by veterans as well as supports available in the community. Speakers and breakout sessions challenged individuals and organizations to do more to increase options for members of the military, veterans and their families.
Presentations from many of the sessions are now available online.
On Wednesday, retired COL David Sutherland, co-founder of The Dixon Center, delivered compelling remarks on the power of collaboration and action. Sutherland, who is former Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the moving story of the center's President, Kimberley Mitchell. Born into war-torn Vietnam, she was delivered to a DaNang orphanage after a village bombing killed her mother. A young Air Force serviceman visiting the orphanage “fell in love” with her, Sutherland said, and adopted her. Mitchell grew up in a military family and herself served for 17 years in the U.S. Navy.
Sutherland also used specific stories of military members' courage and sacrifice, and the challenges they faced upon returning home, as examples of how psychological and physical wounds have lasting effects on service members. He linked those stories to tales of how specific actions by individuals or community groups helped to make life-changing differences for these military members and their families. His presentation ended with a call to action as he challenged all Battlemind attendees to do the same.
Sessions covered information on a variety of topics, including:
- psychological first aid for first responders;
- programming for Indiana service members, veterans and their families;
- pain and combat;
- combat stress, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide;
- serving female veterans; and
- education and employment.
Participants also engaged in conversations about issues on Twitter at #b2h4.
The date for Battlemind to Home Symposium V has not yet been set. Check back for more information in the spring.