CommunityOfVeterans.org

November 11, 2008 in Life, the Universe, and Everything | 1 comment

The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans and the Ad Council have launched CommunityOfVeterans.org, a resource for veterans of our two most recent wars.

The mental health consequences of combat threaten to overwhelm a new generation of veterans. There are 1.7 million men and women who have served, or are currently serving, in Iraq and Afghanistan. About 1 in 5 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are suffering from a mental health injury, ranging from depression to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as a result of their service.

Less than 1% of the U.S. population has served or is serving in the current conflicts and when they return home, their sense of isolation is often magnified. This campaign’s long-term objective is to decrease the depression and PTSD-related outcomes among returning Vets by taking a two-pronged approach — encouraging Veterans to join other Veterans at the first ever online community exclusive to OIF/OEF Vets, and separately, to empower their Friends and Family by helping them learn how to start constructive conversations. The challenges facing returning vets are myriad but with support from other Veterans, family, and friends the issues can be effectively dealt with.

Veterans can visit CommunityOfVeterans.org to connect with other vets. The companion site for the families and friends of veterans, SupportYourVet.org, is currently under construction.

(hat tip: Talking Points Memo)

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December 3, 2008 at 10:34 pm

stella foster

I have watched that TV commercial showing the soldier coming home but no one is in sight until one guy crosses the street and shakes his hand. I was hoping that everyone was not in sight because they all were at one location and all would shout “welcome home soldier”....or something showing more folks welcoming him. I say this because after the guy shakes his hand…..all the people appear on the street….but no one is paying any attention to him.

Maybe I just think the commercial could be alot stronger because the veterans do feel like they are alone….a sea of people greeting him would make a positive statement as to how we should receive our soldiers from combat. thanks for listening…..