News and Events

Watch the first-ever Veteran Buddy Check Summit

U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs – Watch the first-ever Veteran Buddy Check Summit, hosted by the VA and the American Red Cross and featuring presentations from The American Legion, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, American Corporate Partners, and other organizations. Veteran Buddy Checks aim to enhance peer-to-peer connections, improve mental health, and increase access to VA and non-VA resources. Take the pledge – take the training – find buddies.

The power of positive intentions

VA News – The practice of loving-kindness is just like that, being both sender and receiver of goodwill. Didn’t it feel great to have that support? When we send kindness to others, we receive it, too! Research shows that loving-kindness meditation has tremendous benefits, from improving our physical and mental well-being to improving our social and emotional health. .youtube { overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:60%; position:relative; height:0;

Veteran Athletes Compete in Olympics Events

U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs – Learn how our Veteran athletes represented Team USA at the 2024 Olympic Games and how VA’s Adaptive Sports and Arts provides opportunities for health and healing through adaptive sports and therapeutic art programs. Delivering direct patient care to Veterans through formalized adaptive sports medicine, VA’s National Veterans Sports Programs & Special Events provides the largest coordinated therapeutic arts events to optimize independence, elevate community

Prioritizing your well-being and putting putting yourself first

VA News – For Veterans, it can be challenging to put themselves first but prioritizing their well-being is far from frivolous, and focusing on ones overall self helps strengthen protective factors and reduce risk factors for suicide. Protective factors are characteristics that can help offset risk factors like stressful life events and certain mental health conditions, including: Access to mental health and substance use disorder care. Feeling connected to other people. Positive coping

Disaster assistance and resources for Veterans

VA News – As America faces an unprecedented hurricane season, it’s important for Veterans and their families to know that the VA is here to help and resources are available for you, dependents, survivors and caregivers who have experienced a natural disaster. In the wake of a disaster, here are some resources available to you. Free, confidential support is available 24/7 for Veterans in crisis by phone, text, or chat: Dial

What Are Ways To Protect My Mental Health?

TRICARE Newsroom – Moving your family is a huge life stressor by itself, not to mention all the other changes, and how we respond to major changes and uncertainty about the future is important. Practice just a few of these habits a day to build and maintain a strong psychological foundation and help protect against stress and negative, depressing thoughts, such as: Exercise not only improves your physical health, but may

Veteran News – October 2024, Vol. 18, Issue 10

Caregiving has its challenges, and managing your anger is vital for your well-being. Join the VA’s Caregiver Support Line (CSL) Monthly Educational Calls – Extinguishing the Fire: Managing Anger’s Destructive Potential. Read more in this month’s Mid-Cities Medical newsletter! Join the Caregiver Support Program this October Protect Yourself and Others with Vaccines Important Emergency Preparation Steps Are You Ready for Hurricane and Wildfire Season? Additional content, monthly calendar, word search, recipes, etc…

Ending Veteran Homelessness

VA News – Understanding the demographics of Veterans facing homelessness allows the VA to tailor its programs and provide services in an equitable, culturally competent way. A Veteran is considered homeless if: They lack a fixed nighttime residence and are living in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or places not meant for habitation. They or their family will lose their primary nighttime residence within 14 days. They’re an unaccompanied youth under 25 or a

Protect yourself this Fall with vaccinations

VA News – As the leaves change color and the air turns crisp, it’s time to think about protecting ourselves from getting sick, and vaccines are available free of charge to Veterans receiving care at VA. For Veterans that have underlying health conditions like the flu, RSV, COVID-19 or bacterial pneumonia, staying healthy is especially important. These illnesses can lead to serious complications, especially in older adults and those with compromised

Be prepared for an emergency during National Preparedness Month

VA News – VA and Ready.gov encourage you to Be Ready by understanding what kind of disasters could impact your area and plan ahead. September is National Preparedness Month, a time when Americans are encouraged and reminded to be prepared for a disaster or emergency in their homes, businesses and communities. Many emergency preparedness groups recommend having at least a 3-day supply of shelf-stable food and water as part of emergency