Useful Links Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-TALK, Veterans Press 1The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has founded a national suicide prevention hotline to ensure veterans in emotional crisis have free, 24/7 access to trained counselors. To operate the Veterans Hotline, the VA partnered with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Veterans can call the Lifeline number, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), and press "1" to be routed to the Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline. http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/VeteransReal Warriors Campaign The Real Warriors Campaign is an initiative launched by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) to promote the processes of building resilience, facilitating recovery and supporting reintegration of returning service members, veterans and their families. http://www.realwarriors.netCombat Operational Stress Control CenterCombat & Operational Stress Control (COSC) encompasses all policies and programs to prevent, identify, and holistically treat mental injuries caused by combat or other operations. http://www.usmc-mccs.org/coscTheater of WarTheater of War has presented readings of Sophocles' Ajax and Philoctetes to military communities across the United States. These ancient plays timelessly and universally depict the psychological and physical wounds inflicted upon warriors by war. By presenting these plays to military audiences, our hope is to de-stigmatize psychological injury and open a safe space for dialogue about the challenges faced by service members, veterans, and their caregivers and families. http://www.philoctetesproject.orgWounded Warrior ProjectThe mission of Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors. http://www.woundedwarriorproject.orgCitizen Soldier Support ProgramThe Citizen Soldier Support Program (CSSP) is working to connect service members and their families to behavioral health providers trained to address issues that affect military members and the people who support our Nation's troops before, during, and after deployment. http://www.citizensoldiersupport.orgAmerican Veterans with Brain Injuries (AVBI)AVBI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving veterans who have suffered a brain injury while in service to our country. AVBI provides unique programs & services to address the specific needs of these veterans and their family caregivers. http://www.avbi.orgThe U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) AW2 is the official Army program that serves severely wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers, Veterans and their Families, wherever they are located, regardless of military status, for as long as it takes. AW2 provides individualized support to this unique population, the most severely wounded Soldiers from Overseas Contingency Operations since 9/11, who have, or are expected to receive, an Army disability rating of 30% or greater in one or more specific categories or a combined rating of 50% or greater for conditions that are the result of combat or are combat related. http://www.aw2.army.milIraq and Afghanistan Veterans Association: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is the nation's first and largest group dedicated to the Troops and Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the civilian supporters of those Troops and Veterans. http://iava.orgManagement of Traumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress ReactionThe guideline provides clear and comprehensive evidence based recommendations incorporating current information and practices for practitioners throughout the DoD and VA Health Care systems. The guideline is intended to improve patient outcomes and local management of patients with one of these diagnoses. http://www.healthquality.va.gov/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_PTSDVA's page for Returning Service Members The Veterans Affairs (VA) has created a web site for returning Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve service members of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. http://www.oefoif.va.gov/ Courage to Care CampaignCourage to Care is a health campaign for military and civilian professionals serving the military community, as well as for the military men, women and their families. Courage to Care consists of electronic fact sheets on health topics relevant to military life that provide information you can use. http://www.usuhs.mil/psy/courage.htmlDHCC's PHHealth"PDHealth.mil was designed to assist clinicians in the delivery of post-deployment healthcare by fostering a trusting partnership between military men and women, veterans, their families, and their healthcare providers to ensure the highest quality care for those who make sacrifices in the world's most hazardous workplace." http://www.pdhealth.mil/ SAMHSA's Military Families page"Supporting Americas service men and womenActive Duty, National Guard, Reserve, and Veterantogether with their families and communities by leading efforts to ensure that needed behavioral health services are accessible and that outcomes are positive." http://www.samhsa.gov/MilitaryFamilies/Purple Star Veterans and Families"Purple Star Veterans and Families (The Veterans and Families Foundation) is a non-profit community service and support organization, founded and directed by Veterans, parents, grandparents, family members, employers, mental health professionals, academics, philanthropists and community leaders. The mission of Purple Star Veterans and Families is to create a national movement of parents, grandparents, extended family members, friends and community leaders to strengthen the homecoming safety net for Veterans." http://www.veteransandfamilies.org/home.htmlPTSD Combat: Winning the war within. This blog is edited by Ilona Meagher. She is also the author of the book "Moving a Nation to Care: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and America's Returning Troops." The author is an advocate for Service members and veterans, and the blog provides useful information about war related PTSD. I recommend Service members and their family members visit this site. http://www.ptsdcombat.com