Niiobli Armah: Many ways to help veterans return to society

Re “Our View: Thanking veterans today and beyond” (Page 3B, Nov. 11): Thank you for the editorial on ending veteran homelessness. We also need to improve their access to mental health services. Together, we can.

We must create environments that truly “welcome” veterans home and keep them feeling “at home” by focusing explicitly on the organizations that support veterans. How do we do this? We need to transform how we approach men’s mental health by reducing the stigma associated with mental health issues and creating communities that support mental well-being.

Prevention Institute and the Movember Foundation are working with communities on solutions that foster mental health for men and boys through our Making Connections initiative. In Illinois, our partners are re-designing adult classrooms to reduce triggers associated with PTSD and anxiety. In Farmington Valley, Conn., partners are supporting veterans through Resilience Grows Here, a community garden designed to create a safe, supportive environment specifically for vets. In Stockton, partners engage Lao veteran refugees to redefine how mental health is discussed within the Hmong community by building on cultural traditions.

We can all honor our veterans through reaching out, creating safe spaces and encouraging social support – all for improving the mental health of our vets.

This story was originally published November 16, 2015 at 1:08 PM with the headline "Niiobli Armah: Many ways to help veterans return to society."