Dayton VA starts support group to help local veterans struggling with images of war in Ukraine

Images of the war in Ukraine can be triggering for trauma survivors and our veterans. That has prompted the Dayton VA to start a support group, which they hope will help veterans struggling with news of Ukraine right now.

“It’s really horrible what’s going on there,” said Thomas Jones, a U.S. Navy veteran. “They’re innocent civilians, women, children are being killed for no reason and their homes and places of business are being destroyed.”

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Jones was deployed with the Navy for the Vietnam War. He didn’t see combat, but did serve on a ship.

He said what is happening in Ukraine does take him to other disturbing memories.

“It reminds me of 9/11…all of the horrible things that have happened…war type things,” Jones said.

Clinical Social Worker Josh Nordstrom and Dr. Jacqueline Allen are helping veterans cope with stress brought on by the Ukrainian-Russian conflict.

“Somebody who’s experienced trauma first-hand knows exactly what can happen when they fall apart,” Nordstrom said. “Experiencing a trauma awakens you to the fragility of your own life.”

Allen said veterans were really struggling when the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan and then came Russia’s invasion in Ukraine.

“It’s been having a lot of impact on our veterans who already struggle with their own combat related experiences,” Allen said.

Nordstrom and Allen are leading the new support group at the Dayton VA.

“It gives them a place to talk to other veterans, talk to mental health providers about what they’re experiencing, helping them to understand it’s okay to set those boundaries,” Allen said.

Right now, the support group is virtual and open to all veterans.

To join the group contact Dayton VA at 937-268-6511 ext 1362

“Many times in life something’s bothering us but we don’t really know what about it is bothering us until we start communicating about it,” Nordstrom said. “Many people and veterans in particularly are not going to come in because they don’t want to take somebody else’s spot. We have plenty of spots.”

MORE INFORMATION:

PTSD: National Center for PTSD call 1-800-273-8255 Press “1″ if you are a Veteran.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255

Safe Helpline 877-995-5247

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