A non-profit organization providing free mental health services to US military personnel and their families affected by the current conflicts that in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Mission:

Give an Hour is a non-profit organization that is putting an amazing effort to develop national networks of volunteers who are qualified professionals that are able to treat both acute and chronic conditions that occurred from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Purpose:

A large group of U.S. troops and families are being affected by the current military conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Give an Hour is asking mental health professionals nationwide to literally give an hour of their time each week to provide free mental health services to military personnel and their families.

Research during this timeframe will help determine the development of additional services needed by the military community, and appropriate networks are in the process of development to respond to those needs. Individuals who receive services will be given the opportunity to give an hour back in their own community.

How They Can Help You:

Give an Hour is reaching out to the military community in several ways.

The Services Give an Hour Provides:

Counseling services are offered to:

• Individuals
• couples and families
• children and adolescents

They offer treatment for:

• anxiety
• depression
• substance abuse
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• traumatic brain injuries
• sexual health and intimacy concerns
• loss and grieving

Did You Know…?

Besides the physical injuries sustained, countless servicemen and servicewomen have experienced psychological symptoms directly related to their deployment.

Over 18 percent of troops who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan — that’s nearly 300,000 people — have symptoms of post-traumatic stress or major depression. At the same time, about 19 percent of service members reported that they experienced a possible traumatic brain injury while deployed.

This means that millions of Americans including the spouses, children, parents, siblings, and unmarried partners of military personnel are all being harmfully affected by the stress of the wars.

The Facts…

• Since September 11, 2001, more than 1.6 million troops have been deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Persian Gulf. Nearly 550,000 of these troops have deployed more than once.
• As of May 2008, over 4,100 American troops have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Roughly, 31,850 U.S. troops have been injured during these conflicts.
• More than 100,000 combat veterans have sought help for mental illness since the start of the war.
• As of late 2006, 20 to 25 percent of the soldiers who have served in Iraq display symptoms of serious mental health problems, including depression, substance abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
• The number of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder from the Department of Veterans Affairs jumped by nearly 20,000 — almost 70 percent — in the 12 months ending June 30, 2007, VA records show.
• There are 400,000 licensed mental health professionals in the United States.
• The average licensed mental health provider charges $100 per hour for services.
• As of May 2008, Give an Hour has nearly 1,200 providers nationwide.
• Twenty percent of U.S. combat troops who fought in Iraq or Afghanistan leave with signs they may have had a concussion, and some do not realize they need treatment.
• Seventeen percent of the soldiers returning to war (for another tour) could have a traumatic brain injury.
• Women accounted for 14 percent of a total 27,000 recent veterans treated for PTSD in 2007.
• About one in every five married service members has filed for divorce since September 2001.
• More than 27,000 service members filed for divorce in 2004, a 44 percent increase over 2001.
• Reports of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and child neglect peaked during the main deployment of troops to Iraq in 2007.
• Across 45 states in 2005, there were at least 6,256 suicides among those who served in the armed forces. That’s 120 every week, in just one year.
• There is an average of 18 suicides a day among America’s 25 million veterans, with more than one- fifth of those being committed by patients undergoing treatment by the VA.
• According to the 2008-RAND study, mental and brain disorders from the war could cost the U.S. economy more than $6 billion over the next two years. RAND predicts $2 billion of that could be saved if treatment is provided to the U.S. troops.

The Problem the US Military Faces:

Our military leaders are fully aware of the human cost of this campaign. The military is trying to attend to the psychological needs of the troops through a variety of programs offered by the military.

Unfortunately, due to the tremendous number of people affected makes it virtually impossible for the military to respond effectively to everyone due the massive amounts of peoples in the military community who require help.

Scary Facts to Consider:

• Forty-three percent of troops reported ever being evaluated by a physician for their head injuries.
• Returning combat veterans are suffering from depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder and they are not routinely seeking the mental health services they need.
• Reports show that only 53 percent of service members with PTSD or depression sought help over the past year.

The Reasons Why Military Personnel Avoid Seeking Help:
A major barrier preventing military personnel from seeking appropriate treatment is the perception of stigma associated with mental health care. Many fear that seeking mental health services will jeopardize their career or standing. Others are hesitant to expose their vulnerabilities to counselors who are often military personnel themselves, given the military culture’s emphasis on strength, confidence, and bravery.

Servicemen and servicewomen might be more inclined to seek help if they know that the services provided are completely independent of the military. By providing services that are separate from the military establishment, we offer an essential option for men and women who might otherwise fail to seek or receive appropriate services. We are also offering services to parents, siblings, and unmarried partners who are not entitled to receive mental health benefits through the military. Although these individuals may have access to mental health services through other means, they are less likely to seek the help they need and deserve if that help is difficult to find or costly.

Give an Hour provides easy access to skilled professionals for all of the people affected by the current war. The participating mental health professionals offer a wide range of services including individual, marital, and family therapy; substance abuse counseling; treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder; and counseling for individuals with traumatic brain injuries.

What They Plan to Accomplish:

Give an Hour will focus will always be to attend to those in need by linking them to individuals in our society that can help them make a positive difference in their lives – change for the better.

For more information visit them at http://www.giveanhour.org or E-mail them at info @ giveanhour.org