WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Service providers and community leaders showed their eagerness to support military and veteran families as they rapidly registered for the Battlemind to Home V Symposium, an event that increases awareness and provides education about the challenges of military-related transitions.
Though registration is full for the Aug. 20-21 symposium, spots on the wait list remain. Underwritten and supported by the Roudebush VA Medical Center, VA Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, Indiana National Guard and the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University, the annual event informs attendees about the physical and mental challenges faced by veterans as well as support available in the community.
“Each session is designed to encourage and support attendees in their efforts to provide increased options for members of the military, veterans and their families,” said Assistant Director Martina Sternberg, who leads MFRI’s involvement in the event.
This year, sessions will cover topics such as:
- addressing military sexual trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder;
- provider resiliency and fatigue;
- traumatic brain injury/post concussive syndrome aftermath;
- LGBT and the military;
- complimentary alternative medicine for treating veterans;
- professional involvement in treatment of veterans and military families;
- serving the children of veterans and military families; and
- VA psychosocial programming.
Last year, more than 400 individuals attended Battlemind to Home IV, including military and veteran service organization leaders, mental health providers, health care professionals and clergy. Attendees praised it as a conference that gave them tools, networking opportunities and better insight into transitioning veteran experiences. Presentations from many of 2013 sessions are available online, and this video explains more about the event. You can engage with presenters and attendees of the 2014 event on Twitter using the hashtag #B2H5.