When it comes to dispensing health care, war veterans are a hard group to reach. They came up in a military system that rewards toughness and discourages complaints, particularly concerning psychological problems. Combat veterans are at well-established risk for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression; the suicide rate among them runs higher than in the civilian world.
Anderson is the lead author of "The Healing Tonic," a pilot study that explored the family-like relationships between bartenders and veterans at VFW canteens across the state. The study's results suggest that with some simple training, the women behind the bar - and most of them happen to be women - could be an untapped resource in identifying veterans in crisis and steering them toward professional help.
"We're not suggesting bartenders become professional counselors or psychologists," Anderson says. "We're just hoping that with a little additional training in how to recognize more common problems, they can help link up veterans with services.
No comments:
Post a Comment