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Veterans
Veterans are often at high risk for serious mental health problems, particularly ones that serve in combat. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are the longest combat operations since Vietnam, and these soldiers serving there face many stressors, including risk of death or injury. They may see others hurt or killed. They may have to kill or wound others. Other life factors can add more stress to an already stressful situation. These factors can increase the chance of having PTSD or other mental health problems. We do know that soldiers who had more exposure to stressors and soldiers who had stronger reactions to those stressors are more likely to develop prolonged stress reactions. Service members also have to deal with the stress of being away from family, and the challenges associated with a readjustment and transition phase when they return home from overseas, especially if they were serving in a war zone. Service members should seek help for their mental health issues before they become long lasting. War trauma from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War, was also terrifying and shocking for hundreds of thousands of American military personnel. For most, memories of the war can still be upsetting more than 50 years later, even if the memories arise only occasionally and for brief periods. For a smaller number of World War II veterans, the war trauma memories still cause severe problems, in the form of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. For other Veterans, who have memories that are even more vivid, these PTSD symptoms are even more prevalent. It is quite clear, obtaining services for Veterans can be a very frustrating process in Alaska and Juneau, and the complex issues surrounding access to services is systemic at the Local, State and National level. Given these frustrations, there is hope change is coming, and our Veterans will be able to secure the services they need and deserve in a more efficient, user-friendly, comprehensive way, as these national problems are addressed. There is a severe national shortage of mental health services for our Veterans returning from War in Iraq and Afghanistan and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs is attempting to now meet these overwhelming needs. Our United States Senators from Alaska are very aware of this problem and our working hard in Washington D.C. to raise this issue in order to secure easier access and more services for our Veterans here in Alaska and Juneau. The purpose of this page is to help assist and provide Veterans with mental health resources in Juneau as well as other services offered to Veterans in Alaska and by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs. The local Juneau Veterans Affairs Office is trying to obtain mental health resources for their office. In the mean time Veterans are directed to the “Juneau Mental Health Directory”. The Directory does have a section for therapists in Juneau who provide services for Veterans. For additional Local, State, and National resources for Veterans please see the information and links provided below. Juneau Office of Veteran Affairs Attn; Lucy Gifford P.O. Box 20069 Juneau, Alaska 99802 (907) 586-7472 For more information for Veterans go to: Veterans and Military Organizations Returning From the War Zone A Guide for Military Returning From the War Zone A Guide for Families of Military Members Where to Get Help for PTSD from the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs War: List of Fact Sheets; Effects of War on Veterans VA Loans doe Veterans |