Henderson Mental Health Center Opens “Victory Program” Providing Counseling to Military and Their Families
Fort
Lauderdale, Florida (November 2, 2009) –HMHC
was awarded a grant for $80,470 by the Dade
Community Foundation and the Florida BrAIve
Fund, which specifically assists Floridians
impacted by deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq.
The project, to be known as the Victory Program,
offers counseling to Military, Guard or Reserve
members, and their families as they prepare
to deploy, or immediately upon their return
from serving overseas.
Many
people avoid seeking out help for psychological
problems because of the perceived stigma associated
with needing mental health care. This may particularly
be the case for the OIF/OEF military service
members ("Operation Enduring Freedom"
and "Operation Iraqi Freedom.") Soldiers
face a number of highly stressful situations;
including deployment, combat exposure, and reintegration.
Given this, it is really not that surprising
that OEF/OIF veterans are showing high rates
of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol
use, depression, anger management problems,
physical health problems, and suicide.
However,
many do not seek out treatment for these difficulties.
In fact, one study found that only about half
get treatment. The Victory Program seeks to
remove the stigma and get these people the treatment
they need. The Department of Defense launched
an anti-stigma campaign called the Real Warriors
Campaign. This campaign is designed to promote
resilience, recovery, and support for returning
service members, veterans, and their families
and that is the model employed by Henderson’s
Victory Program.
Available
services include: Individual and Group Therapy,
Family Therapy and Peer Support Groups to deal
with anxiety, stress, depression, relationship
problems, substance abuse problems, or unresolved
post traumatic issues. The Victory Program can
help alleviate stressors that if untreated,
would likely result in serious challenges to
the individual and their loved ones. The program
helps people manage their concerns effectively
and increases their resiliency for facing future
stressors.
The
program is offered in three convenient locations
in Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale and Tamarac at
Henderson Mental Health Center’s outpatient
facilities.
Appointments
can be made to access the Victory Program by
calling 954-921-2600.
Henderson
Mental Health Center is the oldest and largest,
not-for-profit behavioral healthcare system
in Broward County, Florida. Henderson’s
programs are accredited by CARF, the Commission
on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. www.hendersonmhc.org
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updated
01/14/2010
