Veterans are invited to health discussion

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009

The program is for active duty service members and veterans, families, health care providers, educators, clergy, employers and law enforcement personnel. While attendance is free, register to attend at www.paxpartnership.org.

The sponsors request advance registration to manage seating and refreshments.

The program will feature presentations by Christian Davenport, Washington Post journalist and author of "As You Were: To War and Back," and Dr. Joel Scholten, associate chief of staff for rehabilitative services with the Washington, D.C., Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Davenport wrote his book after a tour embedded with the Blackhawk Battalion of the Virginia National Guard.

Scholten is a trauma specialist in combat-related post traumatic stress disorder and mild to moderate traumatic brain Injury.

"Veterans returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan have endured a distinct group of stressors linked to long tours of duty and intense urban warfare that brings violence to a very personal level," retired U.S. Navy Capt. Connie Walker, president of the Southern Maryland chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, said in a press release. "In some cases, service members are serving multiple tours in theater with very little time between combat deployments. Service men and women generally are strong and resilient individuals, and it is normal to be affected by the violence of war. That said, outreach to our men and women who have served in these theaters, rather than waiting for veterans and families in distress to seek help, is essential.

"While it's true that the attention now being given to the mental health needs of our returning veterans could help reduce the stigma that is still wrongly associated with mental health problems in general, stigma remains a very real issue. That is why educational programs like this ... that involve community stakeholders across the spectrum, are so important," Walker said in the release. "I have recommended Chris Davenport's book to many people who would like a better understanding of the issues involved, and who want to improve community outreach and support for our returning veterans. Chris follows several Guardsmen as they reintegrate into their community after returning from war, and chronicles their experiences. We are also fortunate to have Dr. Scholten on the agenda. He is a nationally known expert on the effects of PTSD and TBI, two categories of invisible wounds that are treatable, when they are diagnosed."

The event is sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Southern Maryland, St. Mary's Hospital and The Patuxent Partnership.

The center is at 44219 Airport Road in California.

Davenport will sign copies of his book at the conclusion of the program.