There are many things that contribute to our quality of life here in Lewis County — everything from where you live or work, to what you eat for breakfast, or how much stress you have in your day-to-day life. It’s common sense that your health affects your quality of life. Find out just how much at http://bit.ly/2T38SW8. However, it’s also true that your quality of life can affect your health. See what how much of an impact stress can have at https://mayocl.in/2Decu20.
We know we can improve our quality of life by changing what we’re eating, where we’re living, or even where we work. But for many veterans those changes are difficult, and for others, there are unique hurdles that might be holding them back.
In fact, according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, nearly 200,000 American veterans face this reality every year (http://bit.ly/2U0qNNh ). Military service members, some who may have been away from home for long stretches of time, can be dealing with everything from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (http://bit.ly/2Cp5xJJ) to pain and depression. There may be injuries they have to overcome (visible or not) on top of the stress of navigating health care, finances and family life.
The South Sound Community Based Outpatient Clinic (Sterling Medical) at 151 NE Hampe Way in Chehalis offers health care support for veterans in Lewis County. Download a brochure with location, hours and services at http://bit.ly/2STOhmS. Additional Lewis County resources are listed at the end of this column.
Finding work can be a major hurdle for veterans, and one which impacts all areas of their lives, including their health. Service members from all walks of life converge on the civilian job market annually after serving with distinction and honor. Through adverse conditions, deployments, battlefield environments and personal loss, veterans are trained to carry out their mission regardless of the circumstances.
Yet it can be difficult to translate their skillset into the civilian equivalent. Many may feel they have to re-invent themselves. Their skills, although sharp, are hard to define to a new employer. They may need to find a new industry, learn new jargon, or even move to a new place. Worse, because the skill set may be different, veterans looking for new civilian positions may have to start at a near entry-level position. In those circumstances, stress and depression may become issues, and veterans may feel alone and isolated from the rest of society.
Transitioning out of the military can be the hardest mission that a service member will have to endure. The stress it causes resonates through the entire family, further straining relationships.
There are numerous programs to help veterans make this transition as smooth as possible while maintaining their dignity in the process. While it’s true that the civilian world lacks machine gunners and nuclear weapons technicians, many managers are seeking leadership, initiative and motivation in their workers. Luckily for us, there is a deluge of veterans with these intangible qualities seeking employment each day. Both veterans and civilian managers can benefit greatly by simply learning to speak a similar language.
There are tools, and people, who can help. Veterans looking to find a new job can use a “skills translator tool: available at https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/ to help reframe their experience in a way civilian employers will understand. Titles such as ‘Squad Leader’ and ‘Section Chief’ can be retooled to highlight leadership qualities, for example, and provide an understanding of the responsibilities that are embedded in those unfamiliar titles.
The Lewis County emergency Veterans’ Relief Fund can offer vouchers for assistance with food, rent, utilities, and transportation to help veterans over a rough patch or to get back on their feet while transitioning to civilian life. Details are available at http://bit.ly/2FEZVyb.
Veterans have worked diligently for their country around the globe. With the right tools and available resources to support veterans in re-integrating to civilian society, positive contributions to an individual’s quality of life are possible. Follow us on Twitter @LCPHSS.
Health care resources for veterans in Lewis County:
South Sound Community Based Outpatient Clinic (Sterling Medical) at 151 NE Hampe Way in Chehalis, 360-748-3049 - https://www.pugetsound.va.gov/locations/SouthSound.asp
Eugenia Center, 212 NW Chehalis Ave., Chehalis, 360-740-9767 - http://eugeniacenter.org/
Cascade Mental Health Care, 135 West Main Street, Chehalis, 360-748-4339 - https://www.cascadementalhealth.org/
American Behavioral Health Systems, 500 SE Washington Avenue, Chehalis, 360-748-4776 - https://www.americanbehavioralhealth.net/
CORE Health Centralia, 1616 S. Gold St. #4, Centralia, 360-807-4929 - https://www.corehealthservices.org/
