|
For many veterans, the invisible wounds of war—traumatic brain injury (TBI), concussions, and neurological trauma—can impact memory, focus, mood, and overall quality of life. At the Military Veteran Project (MVP), we provide innovative, science-backed therapies to help veterans heal, including hypobaric chamber therapy.
⸻ What Is a Hypobaric Chamber? A hypobaric chamber is a controlled, low-pressure environment that simulates high-altitude conditions. By gently reducing air pressure, the body adapts and oxygen delivery to tissues—including the brain—is enhanced. This stimulates natural healing and supports neurological recovery. ⸻ How Hypobaric Therapy Helps Veterans with TBI Step-by-Step Experience in a Hypobaric Chamber: 1. Preparation: The veteran enters the chamber, fully clothed and comfortably seated. Sessions are monitored by trained medical staff. 2. Controlled Low Pressure: The chamber gradually reduces air pressure, simulating high-altitude conditions that increase oxygen absorption. 3. Enhanced Oxygen Delivery: Oxygen-rich blood reaches damaged brain tissue, promoting repair of neural pathways. 4. Neuroplasticity Support: The therapy encourages the brain to form new connections, improving cognitive function and memory. 5. Recovery & Monitoring: After the session, veterans are assessed for improvements in focus, sleep, mood, and overall well-being. Benefits for Veterans Include: • Improved cognitive function, memory, and focus • Reduced headaches and brain inflammation • Better sleep and overall physical recovery • Non-invasive, drug-free support for TBI and concussion recovery ⸻ Why MVP Integrates Hypobaric Therapy At MVP, our goal is to address the unique needs of each veteran. Hypobaric therapy complements our broader programs—counseling, physical rehabilitation, alternative therapies—providing veterans with a holistic path to recovery. We have seen veterans regain clarity, mental stamina, and independence through this therapy, helping them reclaim control over their lives after brain injury. ⸻ A Commitment to Innovation and Healing MVP is proud to offer hypobaric chamber therapy as part of our comprehensive veteran care programs. It embodies our mission: to provide cutting-edge, compassionate care and to honor the legacy of Staff Sergeant Jamie Jarboe, who wanted veterans to receive the support and resources they deserve.
0 Comments
Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, 7,057 U.S. military service members were killed in war operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Deaths by suicide among veterans and service members who served post-9/11 amount to more than four times that number, according to a recent report that’s part of the Costs of War project from Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. The June 21 report, by Boston University post-doctoral student Thomas Howard Suitt, estimates that 30,177 active duty personnel and veterans who served in the post 9/11 wars have died by suicide. GET THE MORNING HEADLINES. SUBSCRIBE“As we come closer to the twentieth anniversary of the September 11th attacks, we must reflect on the mental health cost of the Global War on Terror,” Suitt wrote in the report. “The human cost for our veterans and service members far outweighs even the most crippling financial costs we have endured to send them to war.” The report cites a 2020 survey by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, which polled 1,705 veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Two-thirds of the people who responded knew a post-9/11 veteran who had attempted suicide, and 62% knew a post-9/11 veteran who had died by suicide. Slightly less than half — 44% — of the survey respondents said they had experienced suicidal thoughts since joining the military. Factors contributing to high suicide rates among service members and veterans post-9/11, according to the Watson Institute report:
Anyone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis can reach trained professionals at Colorado Crisis Services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1-844-493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255 for free support. A 2020 report from the Department of Veterans Affairs shows the suicide rate among veterans, adjusted for changes in the population’s age and sex, increased nearly 50% since 2005. In 2018, the veteran suicide rate was 27.5 suicide deaths per 100,000 people — equating to an average of 17.6 deaths nationwide per day. The VA’s most recent data excludes reservists and National Guardsmen, the report pointed out. And while the suicide rate among the U.S. population as a whole increased 30% since 2005, that increase is “not commensurate with those of veterans overall and certainly not with more recent younger veterans of the post-9/11 wars,” Suitt noted. For the 18-34 age group, the veteran suicide rate increased 76% over that time frame. To get to the estimate of 30,177 suicide deaths for post-9/11 veterans and service members, Suitt used rates provided by the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention to “conservatively estimate” 22,261 suicide deaths among veterans who served in the Global War on Terror operations. He then added the 5,116 active-duty service members who died by suicide, along with the 1,193 National Guard service members and 1,607 Reserve component service members who died by suicide between 2011 and 2020 but were excluded from the VA’s data. Colorado prepares to launch veteran suicide prevention pilot programIn Colorado — home to six military installations and approximately 373,000 veterans — legislators recently passed a bill that creates a pilot program for veteran suicide prevention. Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, signed Senate Bill 21-129 into law June 23. “It’s our duty to support veterans during and after their return to civilian life, and behavioral health is one of those needs that often goes unmet,” Polis said at the bill signing. “This pilot program is just an early step in expanding critical support for Colorado’s veterans.” Gov. Jared Polis signs Senate Bill 21-129 into law during a ceremony at Lincoln Memorial Park in Denver on June 23, 2021. The bill was sponsored by Senate President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo (far left), and Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton (front right). (Screenshot/Governor Jared Polis YouTube)SB-129 tasks the Department of Human Services with establishing the four-year program, aimed at reducing suicide and thoughts of suicide among veterans in El Paso County, where there is a concentration of military bases and other facilities. DHS will contract with a nonprofit or educational organization to provide “no-cost, stigma-free, confidential, and effective” mental health and substance use treatment for up to 700 U.S. veterans and their families. Sponsors of SB-129 include two veterans: Senate President Leroy Garcia of Pueblo and Rep. David Ortiz of Littleton. Both lawmakers are Democrats. El Paso County was chosen because of the “grassroots work” being done by local organizations supporting veterans, Garcia told Newsline, as well as for the county’s high suicide rate. One veteran dies by suicide per week in El Paso County, Garcia said. From 2005 through 2020, 3,069 veterans died by suicide in Colorado, including 625 in El Paso County, according to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Garcia said he believes the state has the resources to expand the pilot suicide prevention program to other counties in the not-so-distant future. SB-129 is light on specifics about the program but dictates that it must have an email, web form or single phone number that veterans and family members can use to inquire about services and schedule appointments. Also, available services must include treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, military sexual trauma, substance use disorders and symptoms of traumatic brain injury, as well as other conditions that contribute to thoughts of suicide. DHS gets $1.66 million in state general fund money to set up the suicide prevention program this year and $2.92 million next year. Funding over the following three years will depend on lawmakers’ budget priorities. The pilot program lasts through June 30, 2025, unless the Legislature chooses to extend services or expand them to other areas of the state. DHS will report on the program’s effectiveness to legislators in the Colorado General Assembly each year. The bill passed in the House on a vote of 53 to 11 with bipartisan support, though the 11 “no” votes all belonged to Republicans. It passed unanimously in the Senate. Support for veterans goes beyond behavioral health careAnother bill that Polis signed into law in June allows employers to give special preference to veterans in the hiring process. Ortiz and Garcia, who sponsored House Bill 21-1065, believe it will go a long way in helping veterans — who are more likely than civilians to be unemployed — to lead fulfilling lives after military service. The law also permits hiring preference for the spouses of veterans with disabilities and spouses of service members killed in the line of duty. “It was finding family again; it was finding a meaning and a purpose and a mission in the community and finding employment again, that really put me on the right path for a successful transition,” Ortiz, who uses a wheelchair due to a helicopter crash during military service, said at the bill signing. “This is going to positively impact veteran lives and really give some weight to the saying that Colorado truly is the best for veterans.” A third bill signed by Polis, Senate Bill 21-32, provides grant funding for a veterans’ mobile support unit. People staffing the mobile unit will travel to help veterans living in rural and hard-to-reach areas of the state and veterans experiencing homelessness. They’ll distribute supplies and provide transportation for veterans, as well as help with business and job opportunities. SB-32’s sponsors: Sen. Kerry Donovan, a Vail Democrat, along with Ortiz. All of that veterans-focused legislation is important for addressing the larger problem of veteran mental health, and helping to mitigate the factors that lead to suicide, Garcia said. Improving access to supports and services “helps decrease the likelihood that we’ll find them on the streets or caught up with substances, contemplating suicide (or) in the hospital with mental health disorders,” he said. “When I was in Iraq, I saw firsthand the physical toll of war,” Garcia added, noting that his job as a mortuary specialist involved conducting search and reconnaissance missions for Marines killed overseas. “I, like many veterans, not only had the challenges of bearing the costs of warfare but also the challenges of transitioning back into civilian life. … I believe we as a country and as a state need to be doing all we can to honor the sacrifices of our service members.” Fast Facts
Preventing veteran suicide is the Department of Veterans Affairs' highest clinical priority. The VA started tracking suicide deaths on VA campuses—medical facilities, parking areas, and cemeteries—in October 2017 and identified 55 on-campus veteran suicides through September 2019. We reviewed the VA's data and found errors: 4 missing cases that should've been counted and 10 cases that shouldn't have been—including a veteran who was alive. Also, the VA isn't fully using data it already has to analyze these suicides. We recommended that the VA improve how it tracks and analyzes this data to better address and prevent on-campus veteran suicides. Heightened barriers at a VA medical facility parking garage to prevent efforts to jump off of the structure. Highlights What GAO Found The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) process for identifying on-campus suicides does not include a step for ensuring the accuracy of the number of suicides identified. As a result, its numbers are inaccurate. VA's Veterans Health Administration (VHA) first started tracking on-campus veteran suicides in October 2017, and uses the results to inform VA leadership and Congress. GAO reviewed the data and found errors in the 55 on-campus veteran suicides VHA identified for fiscal years 2018 and 2019, including 10 overcounts (deaths that should not have been reported but were) and four undercounts (deaths that should have been reported but were not). Examples of Errors on the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) List of 55 On-Campus Veteran Suicides for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019 (as of September 2019) VA has taken some steps to address on-campus veteran suicides, such as issuing guidance and staff training. However, GAO found that the analyses informing these efforts are limited. Specifically, VHA
Why GAO Did This StudyVA established suicide prevention as its highest clinical priority. In recent years, there have been reports of veterans dying by suicide on VA campuses—in locations such as inpatient settings, parking lots, and on the grounds of cemeteries. GAO was asked to review veteran deaths by suicide on VA campuses. This report examines (1) VA's process to track the number of veterans that died by suicide on VA campuses, and (2) steps VA has taken to address these types of suicides. GAO reviewed the sources of information VHA uses to identify and analyze on-campus veteran suicides, VA and VHA strategic plans and policies related to suicide prevention and reporting, and federal internal control standards. GAO also interviewed VA and VHA central office officials, and officials from three medical facilities that GAO selected because they reportedly had on-campus veteran suicides between fiscal years 2018 and 2019. Recommendations GAO is making three recommendations, including that VA improve its process to accurately identify all on-campus veteran suicides and conduct more comprehensive analyses of these occurrences. VA did not concur with one of GAO's recommendations related to conducting root cause analyses. GAO continues to believe that this recommendation is valid, as discussed in the report. Recommendations for Executive Action Agency Affected Recommendation Status Department of Veterans Affairs Priority Rec. The Under Secretary for Health should, in collaboration with relevant VBA and NCA officials, improve its process to accurately identify all on-campus veteran deaths by suicide by ensuring that it uses updated information and corroborates information with VA facility officials. (Recommendation 1) Closed – Implemented On September 16, 2022, VA published VA-wide reporting procedures for suicide deaths on VA property-which the procedures define as any VA owned, rented, or leased property where the VA has physical possession and under the purview of VA's Office of Operations, Security, and Preparedness. The procedures direct each VA administration to maintain data on suicide deaths and to provide information to the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention for reconciliation and analysis. Department of Veterans Affairs Priority Rec. The Under Secretary for Health should expand the policy requirement for a root cause analysis to include all cases of on-campus veteran death by suicide, regardless of whether the veterans involved were enrolled in VHA health care services at the time of their death. (Recommendation 2) Closed – Implemented VA disagreed with our recommendation and stated that a root cause analysis was not the appropriate tool for conducting suicide surveillance for all cases of veteran death by suicide. However, VA did agree with the importance to capture data and study individual deaths by suicide on VA property in order to be able to identify trends to improve VA actions. In January 2022, VA stated that VHA requires facilities to submit Issue Briefs for all suicide attempts and deaths that occur at VA medical centers. In August 2022, VHA released guidance to VA organizations that expanded its data collection processes for Issue Briefs when deaths by suicide occur on VA property. The updated Issue Brief... View More Department of Veterans Affairs The Under Secretary for Health should direct the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention to expand its analyses of on-campus veteran deaths by suicide to include all relevant information VA collects for these incidents, such as data from root causes analyses and information collected through the Behavioral Health Autopsy Program. (Recommendation 3) Closed – Implemented VA concurred with this recommendation. In July 2022, VA completed a report entitled On-Campus Suicide Deaths Among Veterans: Detailed Analyses of Data from Issue Briefs, Chart Reviews, and Root Causes Analyses. The report identified areas for improvement based on the 29 on-campus suicide deaths that occurred in fiscal years 2020 and 2021, and included information from Issue Briefs, Root Causes Analyses, and information from Behavioral Health Autopsy Chart Reviews. VA's report also acknowledged that collecting comprehensive details about on-campus suicides is essential to create a better, safer environment of care for veterans, and that key VA stakeholders will convene to draft... Read More Below. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-20-664  The rate of suicide has increased dramatically across most segments of our population in recent years. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, there were more than twice as many suicides in the USA in 2017 as there were homicides. The Military Veteran Project is actively engaged in improving brain health and mental health by providing research and treatment not available or accessible by the VA or DOD to veterans around the world. We are committed to spreading awareness of this distressing issue. Suicides affect many segments of the population, and various factors contribute to this epidemic. Chronic illnesses, both mental and physical, increase suicidal ideation in those who have suffered for years, Military veterans are more likely than the civilian population to develop mental health problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and traumatic brain injury. Veterans are also at high risk for developing associated substance-use disorders – all factors associated with suicide. Everyone can play a role in suicide prevention. Major mental illnesses rarely originate “out of the blue,” and oftentimes family, friends, teachers and/or the individuals themselves can learn to recognize small changes before the point of no return. Symptoms listed here, including withdrawal, apathy, social isolation, unusual behaviors, and mood changes, are early warning signs that can be brought to a mental health professional’s attention. Suicides are preventable, and the stigma surrounding mental health problems can and should be addressed in our society. Military traumatic brain injury and its consequences are at a crisis level. There are medical facilities, non-profit organizations and people across the county and around the world that are prepared to unite to fight for the freedoms our veterans deserve when they return home from war, even a simple freedom of proper diagnosis. Since 2012, the Military Veteran Project's small grassroots movement has made huge momentum from Washington DC to Los Angeles to Texas up to Minnesota and even over seas in Europe and the middle east and we know we must continue our efforts. In September each year, our fellow medical facilities and supporters across the country will place 22 white crosses to represent the number of estimated veteran suicides that happen each day. We do not want to forget the sacrifice made by our veterans or their families that left behind. Please join us by simply creating your own "memorial" and alert your local media of the nationwide event. If you are a veteran looking for answers to your questions and need help, please contact us. Click below to join us to help create change Introduction
Suicide is a significant public health concern, especially for U.S. military personnel and veterans and has been identified as one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. military (Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, 2014). Moreover, the suicide rate among U.S. veterans reportedly increased between 2001 and 2014 and risk for suicide in veterans was 21% higher than in the US civilian adults, after considering the differences in age and gender (Office of Suicide Prevention, 2016). Rates of veterans who die by suicide have increased public attention to suicide and underscored the need for research to identify risk factors and to increase suicide prevention efforts in veterans and military personnel (Ramchand et al., 2011; Department of Veterans Affairs, 2013). To date, various interventions ranging from individual to community level approaches are being scrutinized and employed for the prevention and treatment of suicide. However, a limited number of approaches in screening, prevention and treatment have been supported by empirical evidence in part due to the complexity in the psychopathology of suicide in the context of various psychiatric disorders including major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and substance-related disorders (Klonsky et al., 2016). A stress-diathesis model of suicide behavior proposed by Mann and his colleagues included stressors in the lifetime and vulnerability of individuals as its components (Mann et al., 1999). In essence, when individuals with suicidal diathesis including genetic, epigenetic, and other neurobiological vulnerabilities encountered distress caused by psychiatric disorders and adverse psychosocial events, he or she would be more likely to demonstrate suicide behaviors. Suicide behaviors are defined as self-directed injurious acts with at least some intent to end one's own life (Mann, 2003). Notably, a majority of psychiatric patients do not exhibit suicide behaviors, while >90% of individuals who die by suicide may be diagnosed as having any psychiatric disorders (Bertolote and Fleischmann, 2002; Nordentoft et al., 2011). This observation was consistent with a crucial role of diathesis in the model of suicide behaviors. Moreover, it has been acknowledged that most individuals with suicidal ideation do not attempt suicide (Kessler et al., 1999; ten Have et al., 2009). The critical need for differentiating suicide attempters from suicide ideators has been identified in research on suicide (Klonsky and May, 2014) and investigating the neurobiological diathesis for suicide behavior would address this need. In fact, several structural and functional brain imaging studies on subjects with suicide ideation or history of attempt have been conducted to identify neurobiological differences along the suicide diathesis (Cox Lippard et al., 2014; van Heeringen et al., 2011).  For those people who want to apologize to Iran for the killing of Qassem Soleimani, I present you with Army Captain Brian S. Freeman. Brian was a loving husband, father, Olympic caliber athlete and Army Civil Affairs team leader who actually cared about people regardless of who they were, where they came from, what God they worshipped, or their politics. 13 years ago this month, Cpt. Brian Freeman and his team of Civil Affairs soldiers were in Karbala, Iraq at a meeting to help improve the lives of the people of that province. During that meeting, a team under the command of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, stormed in, killing a number of American's, and capturing Brian and several members of his team. The captured CA team members were handcuffed, driven away from the meeting and later executed. Once found, in spite of our best efforts, several medics, unsuccessfully attempted to save Brian. Captain Freeman is but one of the lives lost due to the evil of Qassem Soleimani. Qassem Soleimani was an evil person whose end, regardless of the politics surrounding it is a good thing. Rest In Peace, Brian. This was a view submission.
Thank you Jennifer who created this post for your perspective. The U.S. State Department is urging all U.S. citizens to leave Iraq after the New Year's Eve attack on the embassy in Baghdad by Hashed al-Shaabi, a pro-Iranian paramilitary group, that caused extensive damage to the property.
"On December 31, 2019, the Embassy suspended public consular services, until further notice, as a result of damage done by Iranian-backed terrorist attacks on the Embassy compound," the State Department said in an update to its Iraq travel advisory on Wednesday. Photos show a burned and charred reception area, smashed windows and vandalized rooms left behind by supporters and members of the Iranian-trained Hashed al-Shaabi military network, also known as the Popular Mobilization Forces. No deaths or serious injuries have been reported, and the embassy was not evacuated. In response, the Pentagon deployed 750 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne,based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to the region. Your actions can forever change the lives of someone in need'
MISSION: The basic mission of the Marine Toys for Tots Program is to collect new unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children at Christmas.
GOAL: The primary goal of Marine Toys for Tots is, through the gift of a new toy, help bring the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope to America's less fortunate children. OVERVIEW: In order to better execute the Program, in 1991 the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation was created at the behest of the Marine Corps. FOUNDATION OVERVIEW: The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity which was created at the behest of the U. S. Marine Corps in 1991. FOUNDATION GOVERNANCE: The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is governed by a board of directors, all of whom are veteran Marines and successful business leaders from throughout the nation. The Foundation’s professional staff is headquartered in the Cooper Center, which is located just outside the Main Gate of Marine Corps Base, Quantico, about 35 miles south of Washington, DC. FOUNDATION MISSION: The mission of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is to assist the U. S. Marine Corps in providing a tangible sign of hope to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas. This assistance includes providing day-to-day leadership and oversight of the Program, raising funds to provide toys to supplement the collections of local Toys for Tots Campaigns, to provide promotional and support material and defray the costs of conducting annual Toys for Tots Campaigns. Other Foundation support includes providing administrative, advisory, financial, logistic and promotional support to local Toys for Tots Coordinators; managing funds raised and monies donated based on the use of Toys for Tots name or logo; providing other support the Marine Corps, as a federal agency, cannot provide; and conducting public education and information programs about Toys for Tots that call the general public to action in support of this patriotic community action program. FOUNDATION OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the Foundation are to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation’s most valuable resources – our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to improving communities in the future. FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES: The Foundation engages in two categories of activities: Program Services and Support Services. Program Services Collection and Toy Distribution: This is the process of obtaining and delivering toys to local Toys for Tots Coordinators and providing the support and assistance those Coordinators need to conduct effective toy collection and distribution campaigns in their communities. Toy collection includes a combination of locally donated toys, those purchased by the Foundation, and those donated by corporations. Support of Local Coordinators: This involves arranging the creation, publication, manufacture and delivery of an array of promotion and support materials to local Coordinators. It includes managing all financial matters for local Coordinators as well as updating and publishing a manual for the conduct of local programs. Concisely stated, this activity encompasses providing a wide range of support to nearly 800 local Toys for Tots Coordinators and their support groups. Today, there are nearly 40,000 Marines, Marine Corps League members, veteran Marines and volunteers involved in annual campaigns. Education: The Foundation conducts an annual public information and education campaign. This activity is designed to give the general public a clear understanding of the benefits that accrue to individuals, communities and the nation from Toys for Tots. It increases visibility and name recognition, and calls the general public support in Toys for Tots. The campaign includes distributing a series of news releases, distributing TV and radio public service announcements, publishing newsletters arranging media events and appearances, arranging for national corporations to incorporate information about Toys for Tots into their paid advertisements, conducting special events, maintaining a website and distributing educational material about Toys for Tots to the general public. Support Services Management and General Activities: This involves accomplishing the spectrum of business management activities necessary to make an organization efficient and effective and to ensure the program and the Foundation operate in compliance with IRS regulations, federal and state laws and charitable standards. Fundraising: The Foundation pursues a range of fundraising projects each year. Projects include national corporate sponsors, a direct mail campaign, the Combined Federal Campaign, special events such as golf tournaments; and special projects such as “in memory of/in honor of” donations and internet donations. PERFORMANCE and ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Since 2001 ranked as one of the top rated charities by “Philanthropy 400” Unmodified opinions on Audited Financial Statements (1994-2017) Average Program to Support Service expense ratio: (2000-2017) 97:3 Continues to meet all 20 standards established by the Better Business Bureau WiseGiving Alliance Earned Charity Navigators (www.charitynavigator.org) Four Star Rating For veterans navigating the challenges of PTSD, nutrition isn’t just about sustenance—it’s a vital component of healing. Certain foods can play a significant role in supporting brain health, stabilizing mood, and enhancing overall well-being. 1. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: The Brain’s Building Blocks Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA and EPA, are essential for brain function. They help reduce inflammation and support neurotransmitter function, which can be beneficial for those with PTSD . Sources: • Fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines) • Flaxseeds and chia seeds • Walnuts 2. Antioxidant-Rich Foods: Combatting Oxidative Stress Oxidative stress can exacerbate PTSD symptoms by damaging brain cells. Antioxidants help protect the brain and improve neurotransmitter function . Sources: • Berries (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries) • Bell peppers and citrus fruits • Dark chocolate (85% cocoa or higher) 3. Magnesium: Easing Stress and Enhancing Sleep Magnesium plays a crucial role in regulating the nervous system and improving sleep quality, both of which are often disrupted in PTSD . Sources: • Nuts and seeds (almonds, pumpkin seeds) • Whole grains (quinoa, brown rice) • Leafy greens (spinach, kale) 4. Tryptophan-Rich Foods: Boosting Serotonin Levels Tryptophan is an amino acid that helps produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and sleep . Sources: • Turkey and chicken • Eggs • Cheese 5. Whole Grains: Stabilizing Blood Sugar and Mood Consuming whole grains can help stabilize blood sugar levels, which in turn can stabilize mood and energy levels . Sources: • Oats • Brown rice • Whole wheat bread ⸻ At MVP, we understand that healing is multifaceted. Incorporating these brain-supportive foods into a balanced diet can be a powerful step toward recovery. By nourishing the body, veterans can support their mental health and embark on a path to healing.
The Restore Project Healing the body from within. The Restore Project is MVP’s nutritional-based initiative focused on teaching veterans how to heal their bodies through balanced nutrition, biochemistry awareness, and healthy lifestyle habits. In partnership with Hy-Vee and Dillons, this program connects veterans with nutritionists, cooking workshops, and wellness education to support long-term health and recovery. By learning how food impacts mood, energy, and physical well-being, veterans can rebuild strength from the inside out. The Restore Project reminds us that healing doesn’t just happen in clinics—it begins in the kitchen, one healthy choice at a time.  Patient and Veterans advocates, industry leaders, and non-profits call on Congress to support “100 days faster” clinical trial startup at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs May 16, 2019 - PRESS RELEASE Contact: Roger Murry, Executive Director, Coalition to Heal Invisible Wounds WASHINGTON, D.C. – A coalition of organizations that support research at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) this week called on Congress to support reforms at the VA to become “100 days faster” in clinical trial startup to ensure enhanced and timely access for our nations Veterans. “Clinical trial startup at VA sites averages more than 100 days longer than at non-VA sites,” according to the letter sent to Congress. “For Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, hearing loss, alcohol and other substance disorders, cancer, and other conditions for which a clinical trial may be the next or only treatment option, these delays can restrict their access to these opportunities.” The Coalition to Heal Invisible Wounds and National Association of Veterans’ Research and Education Foundations (NAVREF) organized the letter. Joining the letter were organizations that serve Veterans, including the Navy SEAL Foundation, Military Veteran Project, and NAMI Montana. Patient support groups signing included the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Veterans Against Alzheimer’s, and the LUNGevity Foundation, the nation's leading lung cancer-focused nonprofit. Representatives of the research community supporting the letter included PPD, Cohen Veterans Bioscience, Advantagene, and the Association of Clinical Research Organizations. The letter continued: “As a first step towards ‘100 days faster,’ which we suggest the VA adopt as a reform mantra, we ask that the VA take all steps necessary to permit the use of commercial IRB [institutional review boards] accredited by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP). This policy revision would allow for a more predictable and timely IRB process.” The letter seeks to engage congressional support for an ongoing effort co-led by the VA Office of Research and Development and NAVREF to improve access of Veterans to clinical trials. By setting an objective, measurable goal of 100 days faster, the VA can drive reforms throughout the clinical trial process, whether within the purview of ORD or not. Targeted reforms, beginning with allowing trial sponsors to use commercial institutional review boards, can bring VA’s practices in line with those of the leading clinical research institutions. “Clinicians need better tools to treat and diagnose TBI and PTSD” said Roger Murry, Executive Director, Coalition to Heal Invisible Wounds, an advocacy coalition based in Washington, DC. “Smarter clinical trial startup procedures will broaden and speed up the development of new tools. With targeted support from Congress, and the concrete goal of 100 days faster, we believe VA can close the gap and change how the private sector views the VA as a potential clinical trials partner.” “NAVREF appreciates ORD’s strong support of the ACT for Veterans initiative to enhance access to clinical trials for Veterans at VA medical centers, said Rick Starrs, the Chief Executive Officer for NAVREF. We want to see the entire Veterans Health Administration get behind the initiative to achieve the goal of 100 days faster for clinical trial start-up. Veterans deserve the opportunity to participate in these studies.” More info can be found at healinvisiblewounds.org *** 
 Joshua Russell Akers, beloved of his wife Victoria Mizell Akers, committed suicide on March 8, 2019. A 2006 graduate of Plano Senior High and Wild Cat Football team, Joshua proudly served our country as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps for 5 years.
Josh was pursuing his degree in Petroleum Engineering at UNT where he was a member of The Association of Energy Engineers, Kappa Alpha, and The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Outside of school, Joshua enjoyed woodworking, gaming, his puppies, and spending time with friends and family. Joshua was the light of our lives. His laughter was contagious and he was a good and loving husband, son, brother, cousin, and friend. He was a leader, and powerful influence on all who knew him. He inflicted his dad jokes and humor on all who would listen, and was always ready with random trivia, a word of advice or just a listening ear. Joshua is survived by his loving wife, Victoria Mizell Akers, his Mother Sara Egelston Akers and Father Jeran Akers and wife Victoria Harres, brother, Ty Akers, and sister, Jan Michael Wells. Josh is also survived by his aunts and uncles Rebecca Egelston Caso and Chris Caso and John and Gena Egelston and grandmother Marcia Stathos Egelston. Josh will be missed by his cousins Christopher and Catherine Caso, and James Russell and Andrew Egelston. The services were on Saturday, March 16 at 2 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 3101 Coit Road, Plano, Texas. |
Sign up for our mailing list by clicking here
Archives
April 2025
|
||||
RSS Feed
|
Get to know us
|
Connect
|
Resources
|
Get Involved
|
|
|
|
|
The Military Veteran Project is a non-profit 501 (c)3 organization, IRS identification number 46-0877378. Donations made to the Military Veteran Project are tax deductible in the U.S. ·