From: SSVF
Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2024 2:52 PM
Subject: SSVF Message from the Director: Mental Health Awareness
Month
Dear SSVF Grantees,
I hope that
you had a meaningful Memorial Day Weekend as you reflected and honored those
who served our nation and are no longer with us. I realize that many of you may
be at the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) conference this week.
However, I thought it was important to get this message to you before the
conclusion of Mental Health Awareness Month. According to U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, 1 in 4 adults have mental health needs and almost
20% of youth between the ages of 12-17 had at least one depressive episode over
the last year. I strongly believe that it is our collective responsibility to
make sure that we are knowledgeable about mental health resources to care for
our own mental health and to actively support Veterans and Veteran families.
I want to
share two stories with you. I appreciate when people are candid with me. I
think that it creates space for dialogue. When we are in dialogue, we can learn
from each other.
Visible
Need
I remember
attending a regional meeting in Baltimore when I was pregnant with our second
child. It was time for lunch and the tiny elevators were just not meeting the
needs of getting attendees to their destination quickly. I decided to take the
stairs. A few steps in I realized that I had not fully assessed the extent of
the narrow and steep passageway. My growing belly and the environment
converged, and I felt off balance. SSVF grantees, Technical Assistance staff,
and VA colleagues got me down the staircase through encouraging words, helped
me with my bag, and made sure that I could reach the bottom safely and quickly.
This immediate response got me through a tricky situation. I was okay. I
learned from the situation that we are a community, and in community, we help
each other. I am really grateful for the people who helped me. I also learned
that particular staircase was not for me at that given moment in time
and I would take the elevator on the way back.
Invisible
Need
When our
needs aren’t as observable on the surface like, losing our balance on a
staircase, it can be harder to know that there is a need and even harder to
know how to help. When our baby was born, a whirlwind of motion occurred. He
was whisked off to the children’s hospital. Adrenaline took over and there
wasn’t a lot of time for deep thinking. It was more about doing. A few months
after the initial crisis subsided, fear and anxiety set in. Our baby was home,
and all of the "what ifs” started. We had a newborn. There wasn’t a lot of
sleep. I was back at work and doing a good job, but inside, I didn’t feel
balanced. One morning a VA Grant and Per Diem colleague asked me how I was
doing. It was the first time that I had paused in a few months to really check
in with myself. The reality was that I wasn’t okay. She reminded me that we all
need help sometimes. After that conversation, I got connected to additional
supports. Our son is now thriving. He is graduating preschool this week. I
realize that this may seem like a super small milestone, but to see where we
were and where we are now is pretty cool. I am extremely grateful for my faith
and for the people who helped us. Before leaving for the NCHV Conference, I got
to spend some intentional time with our two kids. Our youngest, the almost
preschool graduate, said that one of his favorite things about people is that
he gets to show them love. I asked what that meant and he said everyone
deserves people who care about them. Four-year olds can be wise teachers.
I want us to
be the people who care. I need us to care for ourselves, our teams, Veterans
and Veteran families. I am asking every single person that touches SSVF (from
the person who answers phones and emails, to outreach workers, case managers,
navigators, program managers, financial staff, Executive Directors, and CEOs)
know the mental health resources in their communities, within VA, and
nationally. I want every Veteran and Veteran family that connects with SSVF to
know where they can get support and that it is okay to get help. My dream is
that every Veteran and Veteran family has a resource in their pocket, their
phone, or their refrigerator that has places to call should they need
support. The reality is maybe someone doesn’t need the resource now, but
perhaps at 3am or when they are not feeling great, they do. So many things can
happen over the course of a day. A tense conversation with family. A child
becoming sick. Bad weather. We can’t predict the future, but we sure as heck
can help people to navigate well.
I am
including some resources below. This is not extensive and is just a start. I
know that you have resources too. During June Regional Calls, there will be
time to share and talk more about supporting mental health. Then, on our
national call in July, we will also continue the dialogue.
Resources
Findsupport.gov
Findtreatment.gov
988 press 1
https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/
https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/index.asp
In
gratitude,
Adrienne
Adrienne
Nash Meléndez, MLD
National
Director
Supportive
Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)
VA Homeless
Programs Office