Brainstorming on veterans’ mental health
The Department of Veterans Affairs has called for VAs across the country to hold summits aimed at addressing mental health issues in veterans, in response to rapid growth in mental illness in the community in the past decade. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on one such recent summit at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center. “Untreated mental health kills people, whether by suicide, or by cardiovascular disease or by being homeless, having pneumonia and sleeping on the streets at night,” said David Oslin, associate chief of staff for behavioral health at the Philadelphia VA and leader of the summit. “But we know if we can get people in treatment and connect them to community resources, we can have those things averted.” Full story.
The only woman in her platoon
As the military is working on opening more roles to women, a profile in the Jacksonville, NC Daily News offers a window onto what some of them may experience. Pfc. Mallory Bryant is the only female in her platoon of aircraft rescue and firefighting Marines. While she says being the only female was intimidating at first, and she has to work harder physically than her comrades, she considers them family. Full story from reporter Thomas Brennan.
Handbags keep military spouses’ hands busy
Military spouses can often have a tough time finding employment. The area around base may not have many jobs available, locals may not be thrilled about spouses taking them up, and employers might not be inclined to hire someone who could move within a few years. But two enterprising women created a business designed to employ military spouses all over the country — making handbags. The Springfield (Illinois) News-Sun reports on a local woman who signed up for the work.
