“Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” - Lady Bird Johnson
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Winter is a time for the earth to rest and restore. Root systems get stronger, moisture soaks into the soil, and the cold temperatures help seeds break their dormancy and flowers put on more blooms. At this time of year, some of us are still firmly planted in winter. Others may already see signs of spring outside. No matter what you’re feeling during this seasonal transition, we want you to know that hope and change are always on the horizon.
The resources we share this month can help you in your journey as an advocate for Veteran suicide prevention. We also highlight some updates from our team.
Suicide is complex, and there is no single cause. That's why we're highlighting several upcoming national awareness campaigns that target known suicide risk factors and populations that may be at higher risk for suicide.
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Brain Injury Awareness Month
- Sleep Awareness Month
- Women's History Month
Diving into these topics can deepen your understanding and offer new perspectives on suicide prevention among the Veteran population.
The Rocky Mountain MIRECC Team
Dr. Adam Kinney Receives the American Occupational Therapy Foundation Early-Career Research Excellence Award
The American Occupational Therapy Foundation Early-Career Research Excellence Award recognizes and supports investigators who are advancing knowledge in the field of occupational therapy. Rocky Mountain MIRECC researcher Adam Kinney recently received this award for his substantial contributions to the field. Congratulations Dr. Kinney! 🥳🎉
Dr. Kinney’s work aims to promote equitable access to evidence-based rehabilitative care for Veterans with disabling conditions. He is fulfilling the occupational therapy profession’s goal of improving well-being through enhanced participation in evidence-based treatments.
We link to some of Dr. Kinney’s research below.
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Brain Injury Awareness Month
March is also Brain Injury Awareness Month. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) affects an estimated 2.8 million individuals a year. Without proper identification and treatment, many may struggle with both long and short-term effects that negatively impact overall quality of life.
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Sleep Awareness Month
This annual event encourages everyone to prioritize sleep as a way to improve their health. These resources highlight sleep as an important component of health and well-being.
We also want to share two visual abstracts we created based on our team’s recent sleep-related research.
Is better sleep possible from internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy?
High-quality sleep is necessary for successful recovery from mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). What factors influence Veteran adherence to sleep disorder treatments?
Women's History Month
VA dedicates Women’s History Month to honoring Native American women Veterans. VA recognizes the impact your advocacy, contributions, and sacrifice have made on our military history. Thank you for your service. Check out VA’s latest blog post to learn more about Native American women in the military and their important stories.
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