U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs sent this bulletin at 05/07/2015 01:47 PM EDT
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7,
2015
New VA Website Encourages Veterans to Tell Their Stories of Hope
WASHINGTON – May is Mental Health
Awareness Month. To commemorate the month, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is
encouraging Veterans, along with their families and friends, to visit and
chronicle their recovery journey on the website, MakeTheConnection.net.
Make the
Connection
is a national awareness program operated by VA aimed at reducing the negative
perceptions and stigma associated with seeking mental health care. Through the
Website, Veterans and their loved ones hear from hundreds of other Veterans who
may be experiencing similar challenges, learn strategies for support and
recovery, along with local resources available through a resource locator.
Since
the launch of the Make the Connection campaign in November 2011, there have been
more than 7 million visits to the website, and more than 2.8 million people have
joined the Facebook community or subscribed to the YouTube channel. The
resource locator on the site, with information on VA and community-based
treatment services around the country, has been used more than 220,000 times.
“We all have the ability to influence a friend
or loved one in a positive way – that’s why Make the Connection was created,”
said VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald. “We want Veterans to tell their personal
stories of mental health treatment and recovery to as many of their peers as
possible. Those stories can be great sources of strength for Veterans in need
of hope.”