May 17, 2013 – Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, Emily Guerra bridges the community with CEO and Clinical Director of Esperanza Guidance Services, Rachel Madewell; and Esperanza Guidance Services UTEP Student Intern, with a Masters in Social Work, Donna Bleimeyer; and with Therapist for "A Journey of Hope" at Esperanza Guidance Services, Vietnam Veteran Gilbert Morales.
Since 2001, nationally, more than one third of the military men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan were deployed more than once. According to the Congressional Research Service, as of last year nearly 37,000 Americans had been deployed more than five times. Over the same period, almost 130,000 service men and women have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When they return, many veterans need long term physical and mental care. PTSD can cause problems like: flashbacks, or feeling like the event is happening again; trouble sleeping or nightmares; feeling alone; angry outbursts; feeling worried, guilty or sad.
Local veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), which was the attack on Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), attacks on Iraq, and Military Sexual Trauma (MST), now have somewhere to turn. Esperanza Guidance Services, Inc. in Las Cruces offers a new program called “A Journey of Hope” for veterans and their families living with PTSD.
June is National PTSD Awareness Month. To find register and find out more about “A Journey of Hope,” a local Veteran’s PTSD program, contact Esperanza Guidance Services located at 1401 Don Roser, Suite F-1, Las Cruces; or call 575-522-5144.