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The VA Healthy Teaching Kitchen Program has put together a collection of healthy recipes that can be downloaded and printed. Click here to access VA Nutrition and Food Services page.
In this Edition:
How did you sleep last night? One in three people has problems sleeping at some point in their life. If your sleep trouble goes on for months, you may have a sleep disorder. VA’s Sleep Check-Up tool can help you learn more about your sleep. https://www.veterantraining.va.gov/checkup/index.asp
Sleep Well from the National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Most of us appreciate a good night’s sleep. To learn more about healthy sleep and when to get help with sleep, see the resources below.
Get better sleep for better health. Learn more here.
 Assessing Your Surroundings
Do my surroundings affect my health?
Yes! For most people, there is a strong connection between where they are and how they feel. Your breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, stress levels, and brain chemicals are all affected by your environment.1 You may not think that this is true for you, but there are a lot of things happening in your body that you do not even realize.
How can I figure out if my surroundings are good for me?
It’s intuitive really; trust your gut. The rest of this handout will include tips and
recommendations that many people respond to in positive ways. But, you are a unique
individual, so if you do not find the suggestions to be true for you, that’s OK. Some people look at a room and know right away what they like and do not like about it.
For most of us though, it is hard to identify or express what we feel.
The following are questions you might consider:
- Is there a room that makes you feel happy or sad?
- Are there places that just thinking about stresses you out (like a doctor’s office)?
- Is there an item that makes you happy, sad, or mad? What about it makes you feel this way?
- Is there a noise that immediately makes you cringe when you hear it? Or a sound that can’t help but make you smile?
These are important things to think about. This is because your past experiences and what you associate with places has a strong effect on how you will currently react to a location. Surroundings can trigger bad memories for some people, like in PTSD. If this happens to you, consider working with a mental health provider. This provider can help you break the connection your mind has made between a location or sound and a bad memory. He or she will help you work through these memories and emotions.
Safety is also important. If your gut tells you that you are not safe, try to find out why. If
your neighborhood is not safe, consider bringing it up with the community because if you don’t feel safe others likely feel the same way. You might consider attending a town hall meeting.
Read more here:
Surroundings - Whole Health (va.gov)
What is VA Black Hills Offering?
▪ This Introduction to Whole Health session is designed to introduce all Veterans to the VA Whole Health approach to care.
▪ Our number one goal is that you accomplish
the mission you create for yourself.
▪ Through our programs and services and, most importantly, your own strengths and abilities, we will work together in healing partnership to optimize your well-being with a focus on what is important to YOU.
▪ Transitioning from the Service and life changes can pose unique challenges and opportunities. We’ll discuss why a whole health approach is helpful in meeting these challenges and capitalizing on your opportunities.
▪ We’ll also describe areas of self-care and well-being that make up all the different aspects of who we are as individuals.
What is Whole Health?
▪ Whole Health recognizes you as a whole person and helps support your unique answer to the question, “What would you do if your health were the best it could be?”.
▪ Whole Health goes beyond your illnesses, injuries, or disabilities.
▪ It focuses on your values and aspiration, your health and well-being and may include self-care and complementary therapies (such as acupuncture, tai chi, and yoga), along with your conventional medical care.
▪ In Whole Health care, you are a more active partner with your health team.
Join us to learn more! Attend one of these free drop-in online classes:
Noon - 1:00 p.m. MT, 4th Tuesday of the Month: June 28, 2022
Meeting number (access code): 2764 897 2983
Meeting password: yPwYMJc@373
For more information, contact Peer Specialist Ryan Brown at (605)490-8322
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Provide Support for PTSD
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can happen to anyone who has experienced trauma. About 7 or 8 out of every 100 people will have PTSD at some point in their lives. Use resources from the Veterans Health Library (VHL) to encourage and complement treatment:
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Bariatric Support Group every 3rd Friday of the month from noon -1:00 p.m. via VVC (any Veteran who has had Bariatric Surgery)
For more information call (605) 718-1095 ext 3-3054
VVC (VA Video Connect) groups
Closed Move Group
New MOVE! sessions starting:
Move Open Group, join anytime.
Wednesdays from 1:00-2:00 p.m. via VVC
Thursdays from 1:00-2:00 p.m. via VVC
Women’s only MOVE! group: Tuesdays from 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. pm via VVC
MONHTLY SUPPORT GROUP
All groups are VVC.
This group is the 4th Wednesday of the month from 9-10 am via VVC. Great for people who have reached weight management goals and want monthly group support.
For more information call (605) 718-1095 ext 3-3054 or visit https://www.blackhills.va.gov/services/MOVE.asp
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Yoga - Mixed Level
*All Classes are an hour long and created for all experience levels. No equipment needed.
*Yoga is offered face-to-face and streamed live (and recorded for later use) on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/VABlackHills/.
*Tai chi classes on hold at this time – we apologize for any inconvenience
Fort Meade 145-108 Education Classroom
Hot Springs DOM Auditorium
- Mon Jun 27 9:30 a.m. Yoga
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Diabetes Support group
Every 3rd Thursday of the month @ 11:00 a.m.
Patients with diabetes are often challenged by the routine of managing their diabetes, and may experience both stress and medical problems that affect their ability to live a full, happy and healthy life.
This program brings Veterans who have diabetes together to support each other to achieve their personal lifetime goals.
The best part about this program is that it is absolutely FREE and you can be in the comfort of your own home attending a VVC (VA Video Connect) group meeting!
Contact your PACT team to register!
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Diabetes Education Classes
Every other Friday @ 10:00 a.m.
Diabetes is a complex disease that requires daily self-management - making healthy food choices, staying physically active, monitoring your blood sugar and taking medications as prescribed.
Successful self-management will help you feel better and can reduce your chance of developing complications like heart disease, dental disease, eye disorders, kidney disease, nerve damage and more.
This educational program consists of 10 sessions and will be repeated throughout the year. Join for one session or for all 10 sessions as your schedule allows.
These classes are absolutely FREE and you can be in the comfort of your own home while learning how to manage your diabetes by joining our VVC (VA Video Connect) group sessions!
Contact your PACT team to register!
Upcoming sessions:
- Carbohydrate counting and heart healthy eating
- Monitoring blood sugars
- Adding activity into your life
- Taking medications
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Everyone experiences some levels of stress, but too much can lead to health problems. Help manage stress and protect your health by using our Veterans Health Library.
Mindfulness and Relaxation Resources for Veterans
Keys to Managing Stress
Stress Management (video)
For more Resources: See VA's Manage Stress Workbook, which Veterans can use to learn specific techniques for managing stress more effectively.
Ask for a TLC referral today and work with your coach to:
- Eat Wisely
- Limit Alcohol
- Manage Stress
- Be Physically Active
- Strive for a healthy weight
VA Black Hills Health Care System offers Telephone Lifestyle Coaching for Veterans who may choose to work on their health and wellbeing without having to come to the medical center.
To start the program, Veterans simply need to let their health care team know they would like to enroll and then be prepared to receive a call from their coach at a time they prefer.
For more information on Telephone Lifestyle Coaching, visit www.prevention.va.gov/tlc
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