PTSDA is now reviewing its concept, staffing and meeting times/locations in light of:

·            The continued stigma encountered by many in the military to seek assistance.

·            The traditional long delays in processing VA claims and the subsequent waiting times to actually enter veterans’ services.

*        The poorly coordinated or absence of community peer support activities to assist veterans outside of formal agency programs. 

·            The lack of spouse and significant others (S/Os) support particularly in underserved areas, both in distance and travel times

         We are looking to:

·            Increasing organization-to-organization links and coordination with other community based military/veterans assistance programs.

·            Inviting more volunteers to serve on PTSDA’s current Board of Advisors, to assist in running the PTSDA web site, and to recon new meeting locations, times and population bases.

What to Expect:  PTSD isn't about what's wrong with you!   It's about what happened to you! (Jim Davis, CEO, Veterans for Change)

         PTSDA is a concept for a peer-to-peer, networking forum to discuss the everyday struggles of living with PTSD (TBI, MST, and other military related issues) and to explore possible solutions with others in a safe and caring environment.  This highlights our veterans’ and families’ strengths to work together and care for others at the community level.

         PTSDA meetings are not intended to be “group counseling” sessions.  We do not discuss the details of actual events.  Those discussions are best left for counseling or therapy. Many soldiers and veterans, however, attend PTSDA meetings as a supplement to their counseling sessions and other treatment activities.

         It is envisioned that spouses, significant others (S/Os), and mature family members may want to have their own defined sessions also.

All Meetings are confidential, peer run and no-cost:

             No Rank or Position          No Last Names       No Attendance Taken             

             No Reports Sent               No notes taken

             No “war stories”                   Discussions Do Not Leave the Meeting

             No command or court mandated attendance

    Professional and productive comments greatly appreciated!

Visit PSTDA at: www.ptsdanonymous.org/about

*   Vet Locator:     Position Report -- new app by POS REP

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pos-rep/id576207095?mt=8

POS-REP, short for “position report,” is a new social networking mobile app that allows military and veterans to locate other Veterans, communicate and find resources in their area. The app, currently in the final stages of Apple approval, was developed by Anthony Allman, an Army Veteran, with a five man team. The inspiration for the mobile app came from the devastating loss of former Marine Clay Hunt, whose depression and PTSD eventually led to his suicide in March of 2011. On Business Insider, Allman explained there were three other Veterans within ten miles of Hunt. After that realization, the idea of an app that connects Veterans with others in their area was born. The free download has multiple features, including Radar, which shows a map of other nearby Veterans and allows users to broadcast their own locations if they choose. There is also Sitrep, which allows Veterans to post status updates and communicate with one another. The mobile app’s long-term goal is to ease the transition from the military by providing additional support and resources through local connections with others who are experiencing, or have experienced the transition themselves.  

         The developers are currently working  on the Android version soon to be released.  They fully realize the potential interest from military wives and partners but they have limited staff and resources at this time.